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DEMCO    38-297 

THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT 

[legislative  and  administrative  history] 

OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  ARMY 

DURING  THE  PERIOD  OF 

THE  REVOLUTION 

[i776'i786] 


John  Morgan 

(i 735-1 789) 


THE 
MEDICAL    DEPARTMENT 
OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  ARMY 

[Legislative  and  Administrative  History] 

DURING  THE  PERIOD  OF 

THE  REVOLUTION 

[1776- I 786] 

COMPILED  AND  EDITED  BY 
COLONEL  WILLIAM  O.  OWEN,  U.  S.  ARMY 

CURATOR  ARMY  MEDICAL  MUSEUM 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 


NEW  YORK 

PAUL  B.  HOEBER 

1920 


Copyright,  191 8,  19 19, 
Copyright,   1920, 

By  PAUL  B.  HOEBER 


Printed  in  the  United  States  oj  America 


FOREWORD 

The  signal  service  rendered  by  the  United 
States  Army  Medical  Department  during 
the  Great  War  has  greatly  intensified  the 
interest  in  the  history  of  this  organization. 

Colonel  William  O.  Owen,  curator  of  the 
Army  Medical  Museum,  Washington,  D.  C, 
has  made  a  valuable  contribution  to  medical 
history  by  culling  from  the  Journal  of  the 
Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts  Bay 
(1775)  and  the  Journal  of  the  Continental 
Congress  (i  774-1 783)  the  entries  relating 
to  the  United  States  Army  Medical  Depart- 
ment. This  material,  supplemented  by 
excerpts  from  Thacher's  Military  Journal, 
was  first  published  serially  in  the  Annals  of 
Medical  History.^  The  interest  evinced 
in  these  articles  has  led  to  their  republica- 
tion in  book  form. 

The  portraits  of  James  Tilton,  William 

^  Ann.  Med.  Hist.,  vol.  i,  nos.  2,  3  and  4.  Paul  B. 
Hoeber,  New  York. 


FOREWORD 

Shippen,  Jr.,  John  Morgan  and  James  Craik 
are  added  to  give  a  more  intimate  contact 
with  the  men  who  were  most  prominently 
identified  with  the  formation  of  the  medical 
department.  These  illustrations  were  not 
included  in  the  serial  publication. 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 


I.     Introduction i 

II.  From  the  Journals  of  the 
Provincial  Congress  of 
Massachusetts  Bay  (1775)         1 1 

III.  From  the  Journals  of  the 
Continental  Congress 
(1774-1783) 28 


LIST  OF   ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 


John  Morgan Frontispiece 

William  Shippen,  Jr.       .      .  Opposite  34 

James  Tilton "74 

James  Craik **      166 


THE  LEGISLATIVE  AND  ADMINIS- 
TRATIVE HISTORY  OF  THE  MED- 
ICAL DEPARTMENT  OF  THE 
UNITED  STATES  ARMY  DURING 
THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 
(i 776-1 786) 

INTRODUCTION 

O  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  acquire 
it,  the  original  method  of  caring  for 
the  sick  and  wounded  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary War,  which  is  the  begin- 
ning of  our  medical  history,  was  to  employ 
individual  medical  men  wherever  they  might 
be  found  to  take  care  of  the  sick  or  wounded 
who  happened  to  fall  in  some  particular  fight 
in  their  locality. 

Little  by  little  the  generals  in  command, 
the  Provincial  Congresses  of  the  colonies, 
and  the  Continental  Congress  of  the  Uni- 
ted Colonies  had  medical  matters  forced 
upon  their  attention  by  the  numerous  bills 
coming  in  from  doctors,  here,  there,  and 
everywhere  that  there  had  been  a  battle. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

The  Provincial  Congresses  and  the  Conti- 
nental Congress  had  a  number  of  medical 
men  in  their  memberships,  and  in  looking 
over  the  histories  of  this  date  we  find  con- 
stant references  to  them.  Among  those  who 
were  found  in  the  legislative  bodies  of  Mas- 
sachusetts was  Dr.  Benjamin  Church.  He 
was  afterwards  sent  as  a  member  to  the 
Continental  Congress  itself.  He  and  three 
other  doctors  formed  the  first  Army  Medi- 
cal Examining  Board  of  which  we  can  get 
any  history,  for  I  find  in  the  Journal  of 
the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts, 
1775,  p.  203,  that  on  May  8th,  1775,  this 
Congress 

"Ordered,  That  the  President  pro  tempore,  Doct. 
Church,  Doct.  Taylor,  Doct.  Helten  and  Doct. 
Dunsmore,  be  a  committee  to  examine  such  per- 
sons as  are,  or  may  be,  recommended  for  surgeons 
for  the  army  now  forming  in  this  colony." 

and  they, 

"Resolved,  That  the  persons  recommended  by 
the  commanding  officers  of  the  several  regiments,  be 
appointed  as  surgeons  to  their  respective  regiments 
provided  they  appear  to  be  duly  qualified  upon  ex- 
amination." 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

In  Thacher's  Military  Journal,  1775- 1783, 
on  pages  34-35,  we  read: 

"On  the  day  appointed,  the  medical  candidates, 
sixteen  in  number,  were  summoned  before  the  board 
for  examination.  This  business  occupied  about  four 
hours;  the  subjects  were  anatomy,  physiology,  sur- 
gery and  medicine.  It  was  not  long  after,  that  I  was 
happily  relieved  from  suspense,  by  receiving  the 
sanction  and  acceptance  of  the  board,  with  some 
acceptable  instructions  relative  to  the  faithful  dis- 
charge of  duty,  and  the  humane  treatment  of  those 
soldiers  who  may  have  the  misfortune  to  require 
my  assistance.  Six  of  our  number  were  privately 
rejected  as  being  found  unqualified.  The  examina- 
tion was  in  a  considerable  degree  close  and  severe, 
which  occasioned  not  a  little  agitation  in  our  ranks. 
But  it  was  on  another  occasion,  as  I  am  told,  that  a 
candidate  under  examination  was  agitated  into  a 
state  of  perspiration  and  being  required  to  describe 
the  mode  of  treatment  in  rheumatism,  among  other 
remedies  said  that  he  would  promote  a  sweat,  and 
being  asked  how  he  would  eflfect  this  with  his  pa- 
tient, after  some  hesitation  he  replied,  *I  would  have 
him  examined  by  a  medical  committee.'  " 

Thacher  was  so  fortunate  as  to  obtain 
the  office  of  surgeon's  mate  in  the  provin- 
cial hospital  at  Cambridge,  the  senior  sur- 
geon being  Dr.  John  Warren,  brother  and 

3 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

pupil  of  the  gallant  General  Joseph  Warren, 
who  was  slain  in  the  memorable  battle  on 
Breed's  Hill. 

"This  gentleman  has  acquired  great  reputation  in 
his  profession,  and  is  distinguished  for  his  humanity 
and  attention  to  the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers,  and 
for  his  amiable  disposition.  Having  received  my  ap- 
pointment by  the  Provincial  Congress,  I  commenced 
my  duty  in  the  hospital,  July  15th.  Several  private, 
but  commodious  houses  in  Cambridge  are  occupied 
for  hospitals,  and  a  considerable  number  of  soldiers 
who  were  wounded  at  Breed's  Hill,  and  a  greater 
number  of  sick  of  various  diseases,  require  all  our 
attention.  Dr.  Isaac  Foster,  late  of  Charlestown,  is 
also  appointed  a  senior  hospital  surgeon;  and  his 
student,  Mr.  Josiah  Bartlet,  officiates  as  his  mate; 
Dr.  Benjamin  Church  is  Director  General  of  the 
hospital." 

I  find  in  Thacher's  Military  Journal, 
1 775-1 783,  on  page  294,  the  following: 

"January  ist,  1781. — On  this,  the  first  day  of  the 
new  year,  an  arrangement  of  our  army  takes  place, 
according  to  the  late  resolve  of  Congress.  The  su- 
pernumerary regiments  are  to  be  incorporated  with 
those  which  continue  on  the  new  establishment  fixed 
by  Congress,  and  are  to  be  entitled  to  the  same 
privileges  and  emoluments,  which  are  to  be  allowed 
to  those  who  continue  to  the  end  of  the  war.  It 

4 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

being  optional  with  me,  either  to  retire  or  to  con- 
tinue in  service,  I  shall  retain  my  commission  as 
surgeon  to  Colonel  H.  Jackson's  regiment.  We  are 
encouraged  to  anticipate  more  favorable  circum- 
stances, and  more  liberal  compensation.  Congress 
having  at  length  passed  several  resolves,  entitling 
all  officers  who  shall  continue  in  service  till  the  end 
of  the  war,  or  shall  be  reduced  before  that  time,  as 
supernumeraries,  to  receive  half  pay  during  life,  and 
a  certain  number  of  acres  of  land,  in  proportion  to 
their  rank.  Besides  these  pecuniary  considerations, 
we  are  actuated  by  the  purest  principles  of  patriot- 
ism; having  engaged  in  the  mighty  struggle,  we  are 
ambitious  to  persevere  to  the  end.  To  be  instru- 
mental in  the  achievement  of  a  glorious  Independ- 
ence for  our  country,  and  posterity,  will  be  a  source 
of  infinite  satisfaction,  and  of  most  grateful  recol- 
lection, during  the  remainder  of  our  days.  Notwith- 
standing the  unparalleled  sufferings  and  hardships, 
which  have  hitherto  attended  our  military  career, 
scarcely  an  officer  retires  without  the  deepest  re- 
gret and  reluctance.  So  strong  is  the  attachment, 
and  so  fascinating  the  idea  of  participating  with 
our  illustrious  commander  in  military  glory,  that  a 
separation  is  like  a  relinquishment  of  principle,  and 
abandonment  of  the  great  interest  of  our  native 
country." 

The  successive  steps   in   the   legislative 
history    of  our   Army    Medical   establish- 

5 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

ment  during  the  Revolution  will  be  found 
in  the  following  pages,  which  I  have  care- 
fully excerpted,  from  the  Journals  of  each 
Provincial  Congress  of  the  Colony  of  Mas- 
sachusetts Bay,  and  from  the  twenty  odd 
volumes  of  the  Journals  of  the  Continental 
Congress.  Buried  as  they  are  in  these 
lengthy  archives,  such  records  are  valueless 
for  medico-historical  purposes.  Presented 
here,  as  purely  archivistic  material,  they 
are  but  the  crude  ore  of  medical  history. 
Yet  this  record  is  undoubtedly  the  basic 
material  upon  which  future  historians  must 
rely  in  their  work,  which  is  my  reason  for 
presenting  it.  To  the  medical  officer,  these 
records  are  of  exceptional  interest;  to  the 
patriot  they  will  not  seem  dry  and  unin- 
spiring. 

Our  military  medical  history  began,  as 
we  have  seen,  in  the  Colony  of  Massachu- 
setts Bay.  In  the  Journals  of  the  Continen- 
tal Congress,  we  trace  the  prehistory  of 
our  present  Army  Medical  Corps,  from  the 
appointment  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Church  as 
Director  General  and  Chief  Physician  of 
our  first  Army  Hospital,  at  a  salary  of  four 

6 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

dollars  a  day,  to  the  final  acts  relating  to 
the  reduction  of  the  army  in  1783.  The 
subsequent  act  of  June  2,  1784,  practically 
disbanded  the  U.  S.  Army,  but  it  was  im- 
mediately followed  by  acts  of  June  3,  1784, 
April  7,  1785,  October  20,  1786,  and  October 
3,  1787,  providing  for  the  levying  of  troops 
and  officers  to  guard  our  Northwestern 
frontier  and  other  localities.  These  were, 
however,  only  militiamen.  The  U.  S.  Army 
proper  was  still  non-existent.  Following  the 
appointment  of  Major-General  Henry  Knox 
as  Secretary  of  War,  on  March  8,  1785,  an 
act  of  September  29,  1789,  authorized  the 
formation  of  a  corps  of  700  men,  rank  and 
file,  to  guard  the  western  posts.  This  force 
had  a  medical  complement  of  one  surgeon 
and  four  surgeon's  mates.  These  forces  were 
enlarged  up  to  their  disbandment  in  the 
fall  of  1 79 1,  and  on  March  5,  1792,  our 
military  forces  were  reorganized  as  a  ''Le- 
gion" by  Congressional  enactment,  with 
Richard  AIHson,  as  "Surgeon  to  the  Le- 
gion," or  Chief  Medical  Officer  on  the  Gen- 
eral Staff,  at  seventy  dollars  per  month, 
the  pay  of  regimental  surgeons  (surgeon's 

7 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

mates)  being  forty-five  dollars  monthly. 
Major  General  Anthony  Wayne  command- 
ed the  whole  Legion,  and  in  August,  1794, 
fought  the  decisive  battle  of  Maumee  Rap- 
ids against  the  hostile  Indians.  The  Medi- 
cal Department  was  enlarged  by  the  acts 
of  May  28,  1798,  and  March  2,  1799,  which, 
at  the  earnest  request  of  Washington,  pro- 
vided for  the  appointment  of  James  Craik 
of  Virginia  as  Physician  General  to  both 
the  Army  and  the  Navy.  Craik  served  in  this 
capacity  from  July  19,  1798,  to  June  15, 
1800,  when  he  was  mustered  out  by  dis- 
bandment  of  these  forces.  On  March  3, 
1 81 3,  in  the  midst  of  the  War  of  181 2,  the 
office  of  Physician  and  Surgeon  General  was 
created,  and  on  June  11,  James  Tilton  of 
Delaware  was  appointed  to  this  position. 
With  Tilton's  appointment,  the  history  of 
the  Medical  Corps  of  our  Army,  as  we  now 
know  it,  begins. 

In  the  pages  immediately  following,  one 
may  find  the  legislation  relating  to  the 
treasonable  action  of  Church,  his  trial  and 
confinement,  the  appointment  of  John  Mor- 
gan as  his  successor,  the  famous  act  of  July 

8 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

17,  1776,  limiting  and  defining  the  author- 
ity of  medical  officers,  Morgan's  dismissal, 
through  his  disputes  with  Shippen  and  the 
unsoldierly  neglect  of  duty  of  Stringer,  the 
appointment  of  Shippen,  Rush,  and  others, 
Shippen's  trial  for  malfeasance  in  office,  his 
acquittal  and  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Wil- 
liam Brown,  Shippen's  resignation,  the  ap- 
pointment of  Cochran  as  Director  General, 
and  his  services  up  to  the  disbandment  of 
the  Army  in  1783.  In  the  different  plans 
considered  for  organization  and  reorgani- 
zation of  medical  service,  in  such  things  as 
the  bits  of  legislation  bearing  upon  pre- 
ventive inoculation  against  small-pox,  we 
get  a  clear  idea  of  what  Congress  was  act- 
ually doing  for  the  medical  establishment 
of  the  Continental  Army. 

The  main  source  books  for  the  early  his- 
tory of  our  Army  Medical  estabhshment 
have  been  James  Tilton's  * 'Observations  on 
Military  Hospitals"  (181 3),  the  Military 
Journal  of  James  Thacher  (1826),  James 
Mann's  "Military  Sketches  of  the  Cam- 
paigns of  1 81 2-14"  (181 6),  and  'The  Medi- 
cal Department  of  the  United  States  Army 

9 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

from  1775  to  1873"  t)y  Harvey  E.  Brown 
(1873).  It  is  in  the  hope  of  stimulating  fur- 
ther interest  and  research  that  I  add  the 
subjoined  record. 


10 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

I 

FROM  THE  JOURNALS  OF  THE  PROVIN- 
CIAL CONGRESS  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 

BAY  (1775) 

April  27,  1775  (A.  M.)  160 

Ordered,  That  Capt,  Kingsbury,  Doct.  Holten 
and  Deacon  Stone,  are  appointed  to  enquire,  and 
endeavor  to  get  an  exact  account  of  the  men  killed, 
and  wounded,  and  murdered,  in  the  late  scene  on 
the  19th  instant. 

May  8,  1775,     203. 

Ordered,  That  the  president  pro  tempore,  Doct. 
Taylor,  Doct.  Holten  and  Doct.  Dunsmore,  be  a 
committee  to  examine  such  persons  as  are,  or  may 
be,  recommended  for  surgeons  for  the  army  now 
forming  in  this  colony. 

Resolved,  That  the  persons  recommended  by  the 
commanding  officers  of  the  several  regiments,  be 
appointed  as  surgeons  to  their  respective  regiments, 
provided  they  appear  to  be  duly  qualified  upon  ex- 
amination. 

May  16,  1775.    232 

The  committee  reported,  that  Doct.  Benjamin 
Church  was  chosen. 

May  17,  1775-    236 

Resolved,  That  Doct.  Church  be  allowed  one  ser- 
vant to  attend  him  in  his  journey  to  Philadelphia. 

June  2,  1775.     290 

Ordered,  That  Doct.  Whiting  and  Doct.  Bailies, 
be  added  to  the  committee  which  was  appointed  by 

II 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

the  last  Congress,  to  examine  those  persons  who 
might  be  nominated  for  surgeons  of  the  Massachu- 
setts army. 

June  12,  1775.    321 

Ordered,  That  Doct.  Whiting,  Doct.  Taylor  and 
Mr.  Parks,  be  a  committee  to  consider  some  method 
of  supplying  the  several  surgeons  of  the  army  with 
medicines. 

(Afternoon) 

The  committee  appointed  to  consider  some  meth- 
od for  supplying  the  surgeons  in  the  army  with 
medicine,  reported:  the  report  was  read  and  accept- 
ed, and  is  as  follows,  viz.: 

The  committee  appointed  to  take  into  considera- 
tion a  complaint  that  the  surgeons  in  the  army  are 
not  properly  furnished  with  medicines,  have  at- 
tended that  service,  and  beg  leave  to  report:  that 
whereas,  it  appears  that  there  is  not,  as  yet,  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  medicine  chests  provided,  to  fur- 
nish each  regiment  with  a  distinct  chest;  and  where- 
as, the  committee  of  supplies  are  making  provision 
for  the  supplying  of  each  regiment  with  such  medi- 
cine chests  as  soon  as  possible:  therefore.  Resolved, 
That  the  committee  of  supplies  be,  and  hereby  are 
directed,  immediately  to  furnish  the  surgeon  of  the 
first  regiment  at  Cambridge,  and  also  the  surgeon 
of  the  first  regiment  at  Roxbury,  each  of  them, 
with  a  medicine  chest,  for  the  present;  and  that  all 
the  other  surgeons  in  the  army  at  Cambridge  and 
Roxbury,  have  free  recourse  to  the  said  chests,  and 
be  supplied  from  them,  from  time  to  time,  as  they 
shall  find  occasion,  until  more  ample  provision  shall 
be  made  for  them:  all  which  is  humbly  submitted, 
and  the  committee  beg  leave  to  sit  again. 

William  Whiting,  per  order, 

12 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

Ordered,  That  the  same  committee  be  appointed 
to  examine  into  the  medical  stores,  and  make  a  list 
of  what  is  necessary  for  the  supplying  each  regi- 
ment, that  the  same  may  be  laid  before  the  com- 
mittee: and  that  the  same  committee  consider  what 
medicines  are  necessary,  and  bring  in  a  list  of  what 
medicines  are  in  the  medical  store:  and  that  they 
be  directed  to  report  what  instruments  are  neces- 
sary for  the  surgeons  of  the  army. 

June  1 6,  1775.    341 

Doct.  Hall  and  Doct.  Jones  were  added  to  the 
committee  to  examine  surgeons  for  the  army.  Re- 
solved, That  any  three  of  said  committee  shall  be  a 
quorum. 

June  19,  1775.  355.  357,  360-1 

Doct.  Hall,  Doct.  Jones  and  Mr.  Bigelow,  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  consider  the  expediency 
of  establishing  another  hospital  for  the  sick  and 
wounded  of  the  army,  and  ordered  to  sit  forthwith. 

The  committee  appointed  to  consider  the  expedi- 
ency of  establishing  another  hospital  for  the  army, 
reported,  that  a  house  belonging  to  Doct.  Spring, 
of  this  place,  may  be  had  for  that  purpose,  where- 
upon. 

Resolved,  That  said  committee  be  directed  to  in- 
quire at  what  rate,  per  month,  Doct.  Spring  will  let 
the  same. 

Doct.  Gunn  was  appointed  to  report  a  resolve  on 
the  proposal  made  by  the  committee  of  safety,  rela- 
tive to  the  killed  and  wounded  in  the  late  battle. 

Upon  a  motion  made,  Resolved,  that  the  house  of 
Mr.  Hunt,  at  Cambridge,  be  hired  for  a  hospital, 
and  that  the  committee  appointed  to  treat  with 
Doct.  Spring,  be  a  committee  to  hire  the  same. 

Ordered,  That  Doct.  Church,  Doct.  Taylor,  and 

13 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

Doct.  Whiting,  be  a  committee  to  consider  what 
method  is  proper  to  be  taken  to  supply  the  hospi- 
tals with  surgeons:  and  that  the  same  gentlemen  be 
a  committee  to  provide  medicines,  and  all  other 
necessaries  for  the  hospitals. 

The  committee  appointed  to  confer  with  Doct. 
Spring,  relative  to  the  use  of  his  house  for  another 
hospital,  reported:  the  report  was  read  and  accept- 
ed, and  is  as  follows,  viz.: 

The  committee  appointed  to  consider  of  the  ex- 
pediency of  establishing  another  hospital  for  the  sick 
and  wounded  of  the  army,  having  attended  that  ser- 
vice, beg  leave  to  report,  that  they  judge  it  is  really 
expedient  to  have  another  established,  and  they 
judge  that  the  house  of  Doct.  Spring,  in  Watertown, 
is  convenient  for  that  purpose;  and  that  he  is  will- 
ing said  house  should  be  improved  by  the  province 
for  that  use,  but  that  he  cannot  at  present  ascertain 
the  damage  it  may  be  to  him,  but  is  willing  to  sub- 
mit that  matter  to  the  judgment  of  a  committee  to 
be  hereafter  appointed  by  this  honorable  Congress 
or  the  house  of  assembly. 

June  22,  1775.  374,  375,  377 

Ordered,  That  Doct.  Francis  Kittridge  be  desired 
to  attend  the  hospital,  as  a  surgeon,  till  the  further 
order  of  Congress,  and  that  Mr.  Kendall  be  desired 
to  inform  Doct.  Kittridge  of  his  appointment. 

Ordered,  That  the  colonels  of  the  several  regi- 
ments in  the  Massachusetts  army,  be  directed  to 
recommend,  immediately,  suitable  persons  for  sur- 
geons and  surgeons'  mates. 

Ordered,  That  a  hospital  be  provided  for  the 
camp  at  Roxbury,  and  that  Cob  Davis,  Doct.  Tay- 
lor and  Doct.  Whiting,  be  a  committee  to  provide 
one  accordingly,  and  to  supply  the  same. 

14 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

Resolved,  That  (the  colonels  0  in  the  Massachu- 
setts army,  be  and  they  are  hereby  directed,  imme- 
diately to  inform  the  committee  appointed  by  Con- 
gress to  examine  the  surgeons  for  said  army,  whom 
they  recommend  for  the  surgeons  and  surgeon's 
mates  of  their  respective  regiments,  and  send  them 
to  said  committee  for  examination,  without  delay; 
except  such  as  have  been  examined. 

June  23,  1775.  378 

The  committee  appointed  to  provide  a  hospital 
for  the  camp  in  Roxbury,  reported  as  follows:  That 
they  have  appointed  the  house  belonging  to  Joshua 
Loring,  in  said  Roxbury,  for  a  hospital,  and  for  the 
use  of  said  camp.  The  report  was  accepted. 

June  24,  1775.  383,  384,  387 

Voted,  That  there  shall  be  two  surgeons  and  two 
mates  appointed  for  each  hospital,  and  commis- 
sioned accordingly. 

Ordered,  That  the  committee  appointed  to  exam- 
ine the  surgeons,  be  desired  to  report  an  establish- 
ment for  surgeons  of  hospitals. 

The  committee  appointed  to  consider  an  estab- 
lishment for  the  surgeons  of  hospitals,  reported:  the 
report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz. :  that  it  is 
their  opinion,  that  the  establishment  of  the  chief 
surgeons  should  be  at  the  rate  of  eight  pounds  per 
month,  and  each  mate,  four  pounds,  ten  shillings, 
per  month. 

The  committee  appointed  to  hire  a  house  of  John 
Hunt,  Esq.,  for  a  hospital,  reported  the  following 
proposal,  which  was  accepted,  viz.: 

Gentlemen: — With  respect  to  the  hire  of  the  house 
belonging  to  John  Hunt,  Esq.,  for  a  hospital,  the 
proprietor  only  expects  such  a  consideration  from 

'(each  colonel) 

15 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

the  colony,  as  will  be  a  satisfaction  for  the  necessary 
damage  to  the  house,  expecting  proper  care  will  be 
taken  that  the  out-houses,  &c.,  be  kept  in  good 
order.  W.  Hunt,  in  behalf  of  the  proprietor. 

June  27,  1775.  406 

Ordered,  That  the  committee  appointed  to  pro- 
vide hospitals  for  the  army,  be  directed  to  provide 
another  hospital,  to  be  appropriated  solely  for  such 
of  the  army  as  may  be  taken  with  the  small  pox, 
and  to  consider  what  measures  can  be  taken  to  pre- 
vent the  spreading  of  that  distemper,  and  that 
Doct.  Rand,  and  Doct.  Foster,  be  added  to  the  com- 
mittee. 

June  28,  1775.  415 

The  form  of  a  warrant  for  the  surgeons  was  read 
and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz. : 

The  Congress  oj  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  to  A.  B. 
Greeting. 

Bei;jg  informed  of  your  skill  in  surgery,  and  re- 
posing especial  trust  and  confidence  in  your  ability 
and  good  conduct,  we  do,  by  these  presents,  consti- 
tute and  appoint  you  the  said  A.  B.,  to  be  surgeon 

of  the  regiment  of  foot,  whereof is  colonel, 

raised  by  the  Congress  aforesaid,  for  the  defence  of 
said  colony.  You  are,  therefore, 'carefully  and  dili- 
gently to  discharge  the  duty  of  a  surgeon  to  the 
said  regiment,  in  all  things  appertaining  thereunto, 
observing  such  orders  and  instructions  as  you  shall, 
from  time  to  time,  receive  from  the  colonel  of  said 
regiment,  according  to  military  rules  and  discipline 
established  by  said  Congress,  or  any  your  superior 
officers,  for  which  this  shall  be  your  sufficient  war- 
By  order  of  the  Congress, 
Dated  at  Watertown.  President. 

16 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

June  30,  1775.  423,  4 

The  committee  appointed  to  consider  some  mea- 
sures to  prevent  the  spreading  of  the  small  pox, 
were  directed  to  sit  forthwith. 

The  form  of  a  warrant  for  surgeons  of  the  hospi- 
tal, was  read  and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz. : 

The  Congress  oj  the  Colony  oj  the  Massachusetts 
Bay,  to Greeting. 

Being  informed  of  your  skill  in  surgery,  and  re- 
posing special  trust  and  confidence  in  your  ability 
and  good  conduct,  (we)  do  by  these  presents,  con- 
stitute and  appoint  you,  the  said to  be  a 

surgeon  of  the  hospital,  established  by  order  of  the 

Congress,  in ,  for  the  sick  and  wounded  of  the 

colony  army.  You  are,  therefore,  carefully  and  dili- 
gently to  discharge  the  duty  of  a  surgeon  of  said 
hospital,  in  all  things  appertaining  thereto,  observ- 
ing such  orders  and  instructions  as  you  shall,  from 
time  to  time,  receive  from  any,  your  superior  offi- 
cers, according  to  the  rules  and  discipline  estab- 
lished by  said  Congress,  for  which,  this  shall  be 
your  sufficient  warrant. 

By  order  of  Congress, 

Dated  the day  of A.  D.  1775. 

Ordered,  That  warrants  be  made  out  to  the  fol- 
lowing officers,  viz.:  Doct.  Lemuel  Gushing,  sur- 
geon; Doct.  Gad  Hitchcock,  surgeon's  mate;  .  .  . 
Doct.  Lemuel  Howard,  surgeon  to  the  Roxbury 
Hospital. 

July  I,  1775-  436,  7 

Ordered,  That  Doct.  Taylor,  Mr.  Fox,  and  Capt. 
Bragdon,  be  a  committee  to  bring  in  a  resolve,  di- 
recting how  the  sick  and  wounded  shall  be  removed 
to  the  hospitals. 

The  committee  appointed  to  devise  means  for  th-^ 

17 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

better  accommodation  of  the  sick  and  wounded  of 
the  colony  army,  reported.  The  report  was  accepted, 
and  is  as  follows,  viz.:  In  order  that  all  the  sick  and 
wounded  in  the  army  may  be  provided  for,  and 
taken  care  of,  in  the  best  way  and  manner  possible. 
Resolved,  and  it  is  hereby  Ordered,  that  when  any 
person  in  the  army  is  so  ill,  either  by  a  wound  or 
otherwise,  that  the  surgeon  of  the  regiment,  to 
which  the  sick  or  wounded  person  belongs,  finds 
the  sick  or  wounded  as  abovesaid  cannot  be  prop- 
erly taken  care  of  in  the  regiment  to  which  he  be- 
longs, said  surgeon  shall  send  the  sick  or  wounded 
as  abovesaid,  to  the  hospital  provided  for  the  use  of 
the  camps  to  which  they  belong,  and  a  certificate 
of  the  man's  name,  and  the  company  and  regiment 
to  which  he  belongs;  and  in  that  case,  the  surgeon 
of  the  said  hospital  shall  receive  said  sick  or  wound- 
ed under  his  care;  and  in  case  said  hospital  shall  be- 
come too  full,  in  that  case,  the  surgeon  of  said  hos- 
pital shall  send  such  of  his  patients  as  may  with 
safety  be  removed,  to  the  hospital  in  Watertown 
and  a  certificate  setting  forth  the  man's  name,  what 
company  and  regiment  each  belongs  to;  and  in  that 
case  the  surgeons  of  the  Watertown  hospital  shall 
receive  said  sick  or  wounded  under  his  care. 

July  4,  1775.  445,  446,  448 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Pickering,  Mr.  Partridge,  and 
Mr.  Goodwin,  be  a  committee  to  prepare  a  letter  to 
General  Washington,  informing  him  of  the  provi- 
sion this  Congress  has  made  for  the  sick  and  wound- 
ed of  the  army. 

Ordered,  That  Doct.  Taylor,  Doct.  Church,  and 
Mr.  Johnson,  be  a  committee  to  bring  in  a  resolve 
appointing  Doct.  (Andrew)  Craigie,  a  commissary 
of  medical  stores,  and  that  said  committee  be  di- 

18 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

rected  to  consider  what  is  a  proper  establishment 
for  his  pay. 

The  committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  resolve 
for  appointing  Mr.  Craigie,  medical  commissary,  re- 
ported. (The  report)  was  read,  and  is  as  follows, 
viz.: 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Andrew  Craigie  be,  and  he  is 
hereby  appointed  a  medical  commissary  and  apothe- 
cary for  the  Massachusetts  army,  and  that  said 
Craigie  be  allowed  five  pounds  per  month,  for  his 
services  as  abovesaid. 

Ordered,  That  the  committee  for  making  out  com- 
missions make  out  a  warrant  for  Mr.  Craigie,  medi- 
cal commissary. 

July  5,  1775.  449,  450,  455. 

A  list  of  surgeons  who  have  been  examined  and 
approved  of,  by  a  committee  of  this  Congress,  was 
laid  before  the  Congress,  and  read,  and  is  as  follows: 

Doct.  David  Jones,  surgeon;  Samuel  Blanchard, 
mate,  in  Col.  Gerrish's  regiment;  Aaron  Putnam, 
mate,  in  Col.  Fry's  regiment;  Joseph  Hunt,  mate  to 
Doct.  Joseph  Foster,  in  Cambridge  hospital;  Jacob 
Bacon,  mate  in  Col.  Scammon's  regiment;  Harris 
Clary  Fridges,  mate;  Edward  Durant,  surgeon,  Col. 
Mansfield's  regiment;  Josiah  Harvey,  mate,  Col. 
Fellow's  regiment;  Abraham  Watson,  Jr.  surgeon, 
William  Vinal,  mate,  Col.  Gardner's  regiment;  Doct. 
John  Georges,  mate.  General  Heath's  regiment; 
Doct.  Isaac  SpafFord,  surgeon.  Col.  Nixon's  (regi- 
ment) ;*  Doct.  John  Crooker,  surgeon  in  Col.  Scam- 
mon's regiment;  Doct.  Walter  Hastings,  surgeon  in 
Col.  Bridges'  (regiment) ;  Doct.  Timothy  Child,  sur- 
geon,  in   Col.   Patterson's   (regiment);   Doct.   Levi 

*  Material  in  parentheses  was  placed  in  brackets  in  the 
original  mss. 

19 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

Willard,  surgeon,  in  Col.  Reed's  (regiment);  Doct. 
Daniel  Parker,  surgeon,  in  Col.  Walker's  (regiment) ; 
and  Doct.  Thomas  Kittridge,  surgeon,  in  Col.  Fry's 
regiment. 

Thereupon,  Ordered,  That  warrants  be  made  out 
for  them  agreeably  thereto. 

Resolved,  That  the  order  of  Congress  relative  to 
the  date  of  the  warrants  for  the  staff  officers,  be  so 
far  reconsidered,  as  that  the  warrants  for  the  sur- 
geons be  dated  the  28th  June,  ultimo. 

A  form  of  a  warrant  for  a  medical  commissary, 
was  read  and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz.: 

The  Congress,  oj  the  Colony  oj  the  Massachusetts 
Bay,  to  Greeting. 

We,  being  informed  of  your  skill  in  medicine,  and 
reposing  especial  trust  and  confidence  in  your  abil- 
ity and  good  conduct,  do,  by  these  presents,  con- 
stitute and  appoint  you  the  said ,  to  be 

medical  commissary  and  apothecary  to  the  army 
raised  by  the  Congress,  for  the  defence  of  this  col- 
ony. You  are,  therefore,  carefully  and  diligently  to 
discharge  the  duty  of  a  medical  commissary  and 
apothecary  in  all  things  appertaining  thereto,  ob- 
serving such  orders  and  instructions  as  you  shall, 
from  time  to  time,  receive  from  any  your  superior 
officers,  according  to  the  rules  and  discipline  estab- 
lished by  said  Congress,  for  which  this  shall  be  your 
sufficient  warrant. 

By  order  of  Congress, 

,  President. 

The  committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  letter  to 
General  Washington,  enclosing  a  resolution  of  Con- 
gress relative  to  the  sick  and  wounded,  reported. 
The  report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz.: 
(To  his  Excellency  General  Washingt07i:) 

20 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

This  Congress  ordered  the  enclosed  resolution  to 
be  prepared,  and  sent  to  Generals  Ward  and  Thom- 
as; but  by  the  agreeable  event  of  your  excellency's 
appointment  to  the  chief  command  of  the  Ameri- 
can army,  and  arrival  at  camp,  the  propriety  of  that 
step  ceases.  We  mean  not  to  dictate  to  your  excel- 
lency, but  presume,  that  to  secure  the  health  of  the 
army,  and  (to  afford)  relief  for  the  sick,  will  natur- 
ally engage  your  attention.  Every  thing  in  the 
power  of  this  Congress  (to  do)  to  enable  you  to  dis- 
charge, with  ease,  the  duties  of  your  exalted  and  im- 
portant station,  will  be,  by  us,  attended  to,  with  the 
greatest  alacrity.  If  the  enclosed  resolution  has  that 
tendency,  we  attain  the  end  intended  by  transmit- 
ting to  you  the  same,  and  are,  with  respect. 

Your  Excellency's  most  humble  servants. 

July  7,  1775-  464 

Ordered,  That  a  warrant  be  made  out  for  Doct. 
Isaac  Foster,  as  surgeon  of  the  hospital  at  Cam- 
bridge, and  another  to  Doct.  Isaac  Rand,  as  sur- 
geon of  the  hospital  at  Roxbury. 

July  8,  1775-  470,  472,  476 

A  list  of  surgeons  examined  by  a  committee  ap- 
pointed for  that  purpose,  was  exhibited  to  Con- 
gress, and  warrants  ordered  to  be  made  out  agree- 
ably thereto. 

Resolved,  That  three  o'clock,  in  the  afternoon,  be 
assigned,  to  consider  the  expediency  of  appointing 
a  surgeon  general  for  the  Massachusetts  forces. 

Resolved,  That  eight  o'clock  to-morrow  morning 
be  assigned  for  the  consideration  of  the  expediency 
of  appointing  a  surgeon  general  of  the  Massachu- 
setts army. 

21 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

July  II,  1775.  488,  489 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Crane,  and  Mr.  Fox,  make  out 
warrants  for  several  surgeons  and  surgeons'  mates, 
agreeably  to  a  list  this  day  exhibited  by  Doct.  Tay- 
lor, and  that  such  warrants,  when  made  out,  be 
transmitted  to  the  committee  of  safety. 

Resolved,  That  Doct.  Church,  Doct.  Taylor,  and 
Doct.  Whiting,  be  a  committee  to  take  into  their 
custody  all  the  medicines,  medical  stores  and  in- 
struments, which  are,  or  may  be  provided  for  the 
use  of  the  army,  by  this  colony,  and  to  distribute 
them  at  their  best  discretion,  so  that  no  peculation 
or  needless  waste  be  made  of  the  medicinal  stores 
belonging  to  the  public. 

December  20,  1774.  506 

Voted,  unanimously,  that  Doct.  Warren,  Doct. 
Church,  and  the  Hon.  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  be  a 
committee  to  inspect  the  commissaries'  stores,  in 
Boston,  and  report  what  surgeon's  stores  and  stores 
of  other  kind  are  there. 

February  21,  1775-  509 

Voted,  That  Docts.  Warren  and  Church  be  a  com- 
mittee to  bring  in  an  inventory  of  what  is  necessary 
in  the  way  of  their  profession,  for  the  above  army 
to  take  the  field. 

February  24,  1775.  512 

Voted,  That  Doct.  Warren,  Doct.  Church,  Mr. 
Gerry,  Mr.  Cheever,  Col.  Orne  and  Mr.  Devens, 
make  inquiry  where  fifteen  doctor's  chests  can  be 
got,  and  on  what  terms,  and  report  at  the  next 
meeting. 

March  7,  1775.  512 

Voted,  That  the  committee  of  supplies  be  direct- 

22 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

ecI  to  make  a  draft  on  Henry  Gardner,  Esq.,  the  re- 
ceiver general,  in  favor  of  Doct.  Joseph  Warren  and 
Doct.  Benjamin  Church,  for  five  hundred  pounds, 
lawful  money,  to  enable  them  to  purchase  such  ar- 
ticles for  the  provincial  chests  of  medicine  as  can- 
not be  got  on  credit,  to  be  deducted  from  the  pro- 
vincial tax  payable  by  the  town  of  Boston. 

April  1 8,  1775.  517 

Voted,  That  two  medicinal  chests  still  remain  at 
Concord,  at  two  different  parts  of  the  town;  three 
of  said  chests  at  Sudbury,  in  different  parts  of  the 
town;  six  do.  at  Groton,  Mendon,  and  Stow,  two  in 
each  town,  and  in  different  places;  two  ditto  in 
Worcester,  one  in  each  part  of  the  town;  and,  two 
in  Lancaster,  ditto;  that  sixteen  hundred  yards  of 
Russia  linen  be  deposited  in  seven  parts,  with  the 
doctor's  chests;  that  the  eleven  hundred  tents  be 
deposited  in  equal  parts  in  Worcester,  Lancaster, 
Groton,  Stow,  Mendon,  Leicester,  and  Sudbury. 

April  21,  1775.  521 

Voted,  That  Major  Bigelow  be  applied  to,  to  fur- 
nish a  man  and  horse  to  attend  the  surgeons,  and 
convey  medicines  agreeably  to  their  directions. 

April  29,  1775.  527 

Voted,  That  Doct.  Isaac  Foster  be  directed  and 
empowered  to  remove  all  the  sick  and  wounded, 
whose  circumstances  will  admit  of  it,  into  the  hos- 
pital, and  to  supply  proper  beds  and  bedding,  cloth- 
ing, victuals,  and  furniture,  with  every  other  article 
he  shall  judge  proper  for  said  hospital,  and  that  this 
be  a  sufficient  order  for  him  to  draw  on  the  com- 
missary for  such  articles  as  he  can  supply,  and  to 
draw  orders  upon  the  commissary  for  the  payment 

23 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

of  whatever  expenses  are  necessary  for  procuring 
the  above  mentioned  articles. 

April  30,  1775.  530 

Voted,  That  Andrew  Craigie  be  appointed  to  take 
care  of  the  medical  stores,  and  to  deliver  them  out 
as  ordered  by  this  committee;  and  that  the  secre- 
tary make  out  his  commission  accordingly. 

May  7,  1775-  538 

Whereas,  it  appears  to  this  committee,  that  great  • 
uneasiness  may  arise  in  the  army,  by  the  appoint- 
ment of  surgeons  who  may  not  be  agreeable  to  the 
officers  and  soldiers  in  their  respective  regiments, 
therefore.  Voted,  that  it  be  recommended  to  the 
Congress,  to  allow  the  colonel  of  each  regiment  to 
nominate  the  surgeon  for  his  regiment;  said  surgeon 
to  nominate  his  mate;  and  unless  there  is  some  ma- 
terial objection  made  against  them,  that  they  be  ac- 
cordingly appointed. 

May  13,  1775.  544 

Voted,  That  General  Thomas  be  desired  to  deliver 
out  medicines  to  such  persons  as  he  shall  think 
proper,  for  the  use  of  the  sick  soldiers  at  Roxbury, 
until  the  surgeons  for  the  respective  regiments  are 
regularly  appointed. 

Voted,  That  the  provisions  and  chest  of  medicines 
belonging  to  Madam  Vassal,  now  under  the  care  of 
Col.  Starks,  be  stored  as  Col.  Starks  may  direct,  till 
further  orders:  and  that  the  other  packages  may 
pass  into  Boston  or  elsewhere. 

May  14,  1775-  545 

Mr.  Andrew  Craigie,  commissary  of  the  medicinal 
stores,  &c.,  was  directed  and  empowered  to  impress 
beds,  bedding,  and  other  necessaries  for  the  sick,  as 

24 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

they  may  be  wanting,  giving  the  owners  a  receipt 
for  such  articles  as  he  may  take  for  the  purpose 
aforesaid. 

June  13,  1775.  566 

The  committee  earnestly  recommend  to  the  hon- 
orable Congress  that  the  representations  from  the 
quarter  master  general,  be  taken  into  immediate 
consideration,  especially  as  the  committee,  from 
their  own  knowledge,  find  the  rooms  too  much 
crowded,  and  the  healths  and  lives  of  the  soldiers 
thereby  greatly  exposed;  and  if  tents  cannot  be  im- 
mediately furnished,  that  some  barracks  be  forth- 
with erected.^ 

June  14,  1775.  §66 

Whereas,  this  committee  are  informed,  that  Doct. 
How,  of  Andover,  is  prepared  to  receive  (insane  pa- 
tients,) and  is  well  skilled  in  such  disorders  as  Dan- 
iel Adams,  of  Boston,  sent  on  the  13th  instant,  to 
the  town  of  Woburn,  is  affected  with,  therefore.  Re- 
solved, that  the  selectmen  of  the  town  of  Woburn, 
be,  and  they  hereby  are  released  from  keeping  said 
Daniel  Adams  in  the  town  of  Woburn,  and  they  are 
required  to  provide  a  horse  and  carriage,  with  pro- 
visions, to  forward  the  said  Adams  to  Andover,  the 
expense  of  which  will  be  paid  by  this  colony. 

Resolved,  That  Daniel  Adams,  a  lunatic,  now  at 
Woburn,  be  carried  to  the  town  of  Andover,  and 
committed  to  the  care  of  Doct.  How,  and  the  said 
Doct.  How  is  hereby  desired  to  take  proper  care  of 
the  said  lunatic,  at  the  expense  of  this  colony. 

^  The  quartermaster  general  represented,  that  there  was  great 
want  of  tents  and  barracks,  and  that  the  least  delay  in  making 
provision  for  the  shelter  of  the  troops,  would  be  attended  with 
injurious  consequences. 

25 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

June  19,  1775.  571 

Resolved,  That  the  house  of  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Cook,  of  Menotoray,  be  improved  as  a  hospital  for 
the  colony  army;  and  that  Mr.  William  Eustis  be, 
and  hereby  is  appointed,  to  the  care  of  the  sick  and 
wounded  in  said  hospital,  till  the  further  order  of 
this  committee. 

Ordered,  That  Doct.  Isaac  Foster  be,  and  he  here- 
by is  directed,  to  take  up  and  improve  as  hospitals, 
so  many  houses  in  Menotomy,  as  he  may  find  nec- 
essary for  the  safety  of  the  sick  and  wounded  of 
the  colony  army,  and  that  he  employ  such  person 
or  persons  as  may  be  necessary  to  carry  such  pro- 
visions and  other  necessaries  as  may  be  wanted  for 
the  use  of  the  aforesaid  sick  and  wounded;  and  fur- 
ther, that  he  take  such  precautions,  respecting  the 
small  pox  hospital,  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  pre- 
vention of  the  spreading  of  that  epidemical  disorder 
in  the  camp  or  elsewhere. 

June  26,  1775.  578 

Whereas,  this  committee  find  the  public  hospital 
in  this  town  has  been  much  neglected,  to  the  great 
injury  of  the  patients  in  said  hospital,  occasioned 
by  the  want  of  some  suitable  person  being  placed 
there  as  surgeon,  therefore.  Resolved,  that  Doct. 
John  Warren,  be,  and  he  hereby  is  appointed,  to  the 
oversight  of  said  hospital,  and  that  he  take  proper 
care  such  provision  be  made  as  may  be  necessary 
for  the  comfortable  support  of  the  patients  in  said 
hospital  until  further  orders. 

July  15,  1775.  597 

Complaint  having  been  made  to  this  committee 
by  the  honorable  General  Ward,  and  other  officers 
in  the  army,  that  several  men  are  dangerously  sick, 
and  their  lives  would  be  greatly  hazarded,  except 

26 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

immediate  application  of  medicine  be  made  to  them, 
and  that  the  surgeons  of  some  of  the  regiments  had 
applied,  but  could  not  obtain  any;  a  sub-committee 
was  therefore  chosen  to  visit  the  hospital,  and  to 
see  the  surgeons,  and,  upon  inquiry,  found  that 
there  were  no  such  medicines  as  are  immediately 
wanted :  therefore.  Resolved,  that  as  the  lives  of  some 
part  of  the  army  are  in  great  danger,  for  want  of 
medicines,  notwithstanding  the  commission  of  the 
committee  of  safety  does  not  admit  of  direction  in 
this  matter,  that  Mr.  Commissary  Craigie  be  de- 
sired to  procure,  at  the  expense  of  the  colony,  such 
medicines  as  may  be  immediately  and  absolutely 
necessary;  in  consequence  of  which,  the  following 
order  was  given  Mr.  Commissary  Craigie: 

Sir: — You  are  hereby  desired  immediately  to  sup- 
ply the  store  under  your  care,  with  such  medicines 
as  are  absolutely  necessary  for  the  present  relief  of 
the  sick  in  the  army.^ 

Report  oj  the  Committee  sent  to  Ticonderoga, 

Cambridge,  July  6,  1775. 

Your  committee,  being  of  opinion,  that  a  major 
should  be  appointed  under  Col.  Easton,  and  one 
surgeon  to  the  battalion,  and  having  inquired  into 
the  disposition  of  the  officers  and  men  who  have 
engaged,  have  appointed  John  Brown,  Esq.,  as  ma- 
jor, and  Mr.  Jonas  Fay,  as  surgeon. 


All  which  is  humbly  submitted, 
WALTER  SPOON ER,  by  order. 


'  Although  the  sessions  of  the  committee  continued  after  the 
fifteenth  day  of  July,  1775,  the  journal  is  not  preserved  to  a  later 
date. 

27 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

II 

FROM  JOURNALS  OF  THE  CONTI- 
NENTAL CONGRESS  (1774-83) 

June  2,  1775.  76 

The  President  laid  before  the  Congress  a  letter 
from  the  Provincial  Convention  of  Massachusetts 
which  was  read  and  was  as  follows: 

In  prov.  Congress,  Watertown,  May  16,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  Docf.  Benjamin  Church  be  ordered 
to  go  immediately  to  Philad\  and  deliver  to  the  presi- 
dent of  the  Hon!''®.  American  Congress  there  now  sit- 
ting, the  following  apphcation  to  be  by  him  com- 
municated to  the  members  thereof:  and  the  s^ 
Church  is  also  directed  to  confer  with  the  s^  Con- 
gress, respecting  such  other  matters  as  may  be 
necessary  to  the  defence  of  this  colony  and  particu- 
larly the  state  of  the  army  therein.     .     .     . 

July  19,  1775-  191 

Resolved,  That  a  Committee  of  three  be  appointed 
to  report  the  method  of  establishing  an  hospital. 

The  committee  chosen,  Mr.  (Francis)  Lewis,  Mr. 
(Robert  Treat)  Paine,  and  Mr.  (Henry)  Middleton. 

July  24,  1775.  203 

The  Committee  for  that  purpose  app(oin)t^  bro't 
in  a  report  for  establishing  a  hospital.  Ordered  to 
lie  on  the  table. 

July  25,  1775.  203. 

Report  read: 

July  27,  1775.  209-211 

The  Congress  took  into  consideration  the  report 
of  the  committee  on  establishing  an  hospital,  and 
the  same  being  debated,  was  agreed  to  as  follows: 

28 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

That  for  the  establishment  of  an  hospital  for  an 
army,  consisting  of  20,000  men,  the  following  offi- 
cers and  other  attendants  be  appointed,  with  the 
following  allowance  or  pay,  viz. : 

One  Director  general  and  chief  physician,  his  pay 
per  day,  4  dollars.* 

Four  surgeons,  per  diem  each,  one  and  one  third 
of  a  dollar. 

One  apothecary,  one  and  one  third  of  a  dollar. 

Twenty  (surgeons')  mates,  each,  two  thirds  of  a 
dollar. 

One  clerk,  two  thirds  of  a  dollar. 

Two  storekeepers,  each  four  dollars  per  month. 

One  nurse  to  every  10  sick,  one  fifteenth  of  a  dol- 
lar per  day,  or  2  dollars  per  month. 

Labourers  occasionally. 

The  duty  of  the  above  officers:  viz.: 

Director  to  furnish  medicines.  Bedding  and  all 
other  necessaries,  to  pay  for  the  same,  superintend 
the  whole,  and  make  his  report  to,  and  receive  or- 
ders from  the  commander  in  chief. 

Surgeons,  apothecary  and  mates.  To  visit  and  at- 
tend the  sick,  and  the  mates  to  obey  apothecary  and 
the  orders  of  the  physicians,  surgeons  and  apothecary. 

Matron:  To  superintend  the  nurses,  bedding,  &c. 

Nurses:  To  attend  the  sick,  and  obey  the  ma- 
tron's orders. 

Clerk:  To  keep  accounts  for  the  director  and  store 
keepers. 

Storekeeper:  To  receive  and  deliver  the  bedding 
and  other  necessaries  by  order  of  the  director.   ... 
The  Congress  then  proceeded  to  the  choice  of 
officers  for  the  Hospital,  when, 

*  The  original  plan  provided  for  a  Director  General  and  a  Phy- 
sician, each  to  receive  four  dollars  a  day. 

29 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

Benjamin  Church  was  unanimously  elected  as  di- 
rector of,  and  chief  physician  in,  the  hospital. 

Resolved,  That  the  appointment  of  the  four  sur- 
geons and  the  Apothecary  be  left  to  Docf.  Church. 

That  the  Mates  be  appointed  by  the  Surgeons; 

That  the  number  do  not  exceed  twenty;  and 

That  the  number  be  not  kept  in  constant  pay,  unless 
the  sick  and  wounded  should  be  so  numerous  as  to 
require  the  attendance  oj  twenty,  and  to  be  diminished 
as  circumstances  will  admit;  Jor  w"''  purpose,  the 
pay  is  fixed  by  the  day,  that  they  may  only  receive  pay 
Jor  actual  service. 

That  one  Clerk,  two  storekeepers,  and  one  nurse 
to  every  lo  sick,  be  appointed  by  the  Director. 

September  14,  1775.  249 

5'S  sundry  letters  from  General  Schuyler,^ 

The  same  being  taken  into  consideration. 

On  motion  made.  Resolved,  That  Samuel  Stringer, 
Esq?"  be  appointed  director  of  the  Hospital,  and 
chief  Physician  and  surgeon  for  the  Army  in  the 
Northern  department. 

That  the  pay  of  the  s^  Samuel  Stringer,  as  Director, 
Physician,  and  Surgeon,  be  four  Dollars  per  day. 

That  he  be  authorized  and  have  power  to  appoint 
a  number  of  surgeon  mates  under  him,  not  exceed- 
ing four. 

That  the  pay  of  said  mates  be  2/3  of  a  dollar  per  day. 

*[That  the  number  be  not  kept  in  constant  pay, 
unless  the  sick  and  wounded  be  so  numerous  as  to 
require  the  constant  attendance  of  Jour,  and  to  be 
diminished  as  circumstances  will  admit,  Jor  which 
reason  the  pay  is  fixed  by  the  day,  that  they  may  only 
receive  pay  Jor  actual  service.] 

*  Material  placed  in  brackets  is  crossed  out  in  original  mss. 

^  Letters  dated  July  26,  27,  28,  and  August  6,  read  in  Congress 
on  this  day,  are  in  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  153, 
folios  63,  71,  77,  102. 

30 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

That  the  deputy  Commissary  general  be  directed 
to  pay  Doctr.  Stringer  for  the  Medicines  he  has  pur- 
chased for  the  use  of  the  army,  and  that  he  purchase 
and  forward  such  other  medicines  as  General  P. 
Schuyler  shall,  by  his  warrant,  direct,  for  the  use  of 
said  army. 

That  M!-  (Eliphalet)  Dyer,  MP  (Thomas)  Lynch, 
Mr  (John)  Jay,  MP  (John)  Adams,  and  Mf  (Fran- 
cis) Lewis,  be  a  Committee  to  devise  ways  and 
means  for  supplying  the  continental  army  with 
Medicines. 

September  23,  1775.  261 

On  motion  Ordered,  That  the  Committee  appoint- 
ed to  devise  ways  and  means  of  supplying  the  Army 
with  Medicines,  do  buy  a  parcel  of  Drugs  in  the 
hands  of  Mr.  Rapalje,  which  he  offers  at  the  prime 
cost. 

October  14,  1775.  294-295 

On  motion  made, 

Resolved,  That  a  director  general  and  chief  physi- 
cian of  the  Hospital  in  Massachusetts  bay,  be  ap- 
pointed in  the  room  of  DoctP  (Benjamin)  Church, 
who  is  talcen  into  custody  for  holding  a  correspond- 
ence with  the  enemy. 

Resolved,  That  the  Congress  will,  on  Monday  next, 
proceed  to  the  election  of  a  director  general  and 
chief  physician  of  the  Hospital,  in  the  room  of  DoctP 
Church. 

October  17,  1775.  297 

The  Congress  proceeded  to  the  election  of  director 
general  and  chief  physician  of  the  Hospital,  in  the 
room  of  Doctr  (Benjamin)  Church,  and  the  ballots 
being  taken  and  exam'd, 

Doctf  (John)  Morgan,  (of  Philadelphia,)  was  elect- 
ed. 

31 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

November  7,  1775.  334 

Resolved,  That  Dr.  Church  be  close  confined  in 
some  secure  gaol  in  the  colony  of  Connecticut,  with- 
out the  use  of  pen,  ink,  and  paper,  and  that  no  per- 
son be  allowed  to  converse  with  him,  except  in  the 
presence  and  hearing  of  a  Magistrate  of  the  town, 
or  the  sheriff  of  the  county  where  he  shall  be  con- 
fined, and  in  the  English  language,  until  farther 
orders  from  this  or  a  future  Congress. 

November  10,  1775.  344 

Resolved,  That  the  medicines  purchased  in  this 
city  for  the  army  at  Cambridge,  be  sent  thither  by 
land. 

December  8,  1775.  416 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  a  surgeon  be  allowed 
to  each  regiment,  (in  the  service  of  the  United 
Colonies;) 

That  the  pay  of  a  regimental  Surgeon  be  25  Dol- 
lars per  (calendar)  month. 

William  Barnet,  jun.  was  unanimously  elected 
surgeon  of  the  first  or  eastern  battalion  raised  in  New 
Jersey. 

December  21,  1775.  442 

Doctor  James  Holmes  was  chosen  surgeon  to 
Colonel  Maxwell's  regiment. 

January  8,  1776.  38 

Resolved,  That  the  provisions  heretofore  made  for 
an  hospital  in  the  northern  army,  when  it  was  more 
numerous  than  it  is  now,  is  sufficient. 

January  17,  1776.  61 

A  Petition  from  Benjamin  Church  was  presented 
to  Congress,  and  read:  ^ 

*This  petition  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No 
41,  II,  folio  5. 

32 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  referred  to  a  commit- 
tee of  three. 

January  i8,  1776.  65 

The  committee  on  the  petition  of  Dr.  Church, 
brought  in  their  report,  which  being  taken  into  con- 
sideration, 

Resolved,  That  Governor  Trumbull  be  desired  to 
give  order  for  the  removal  of  Dr.  Church  to  some 
more  comfortable  place  of  confinement  than  that 
where  he  now  is,  if  such  can  be  found  in  that  colony; 
and  that,  for  the  advancement  of  his  health  the, 
said  Dr.  Church  be  permitted  to  ride  out,  at  proper 
seasons,  under  a  trusty  guard,  who  will  be  careful 
to  prevent  his  carrying  on  any  correspondence,  or 
doing  any  act  prejudicial  to  the  safety  and  welfare 
of  the  United  Colonies. 

A  letter  from  the  committee  of  Frederic  town, 
(Maryland,)  enclosing  sundry  intercepted  letters  of 
Connolly,  taken  on  Dr.  John  Smith,  (one  of  Con- 
nolly's associates,)  and  brought  by  the  guard  who 
had  the  charge  of  bringing  down  said  Smith,  was 
laid  before  Congress  and  read: 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  commit- 
tee of  safety  of  Pennsylvania,  to  take  the  examina- 
tion of  Dr.  Smith,  and  then  commit  him  to  safe 
and  close  confinement. 

January  25,  1776.  87-8 

A  letter  from  Richard  Huddleston,     ....'' 
The  same  Committee  on  considering  Dr.   Hud- 
dlestone's  Letter,  are  of  Opinion, 

That  he  be  immediately  set  at  Liberty  on  the 
Terms  he  mentions.  And  that  a  verbal  Proposition 
be  sent  by  him  to  General  Carleton,  to  enter  into  a 

^  The  letter  of  Huddleston  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  No.  78,  XI,  folio  13, 

33 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

Stipulation  on  both  sides,  not  only  to  release  all 
Physicians  and  Surgeons;  but  that  if  by  the  For- 
tune of  War,  the  Hospital  of  either  Army  should 
fall  into  the  Power  of  the  other,  the  same  Subsist- 
ence and  Supplies  should  be  afforded  to  the  Sick 
and  Wounded  as  if  Friends;  and  that  neither  they 
nor  the  Attendants  of  the  Hospitals  should  be  con- 
sidered or  detain'd  as  Prisoners.  And  it  is  farther 
the  Opinion  of  the  Committee,  that  if  Govr.  Carle- 
ton  should  not  agree  to  the  mutual  Release  of  Sur- 
geons, Dr.  Huddlestone  is  to  be  on  his  Parole,  to  re- 
turn immediately  hither.^ 

January  30,  1776.  loi 

Resolved,  That  Dr.  Cadwalader  and  Dr.  W.  Ship- 
pen,  Jun?"  be  desired  to  inspect  the  room  of  the  gaol 
where  General  Prescot  is  confined,  and  enquire  into 
the  state  of  his  health,  and  report  to  Congress. 

January  31,  1776.  105 

Dr.  Cadwalader  and  Dr.  Shippen  returned  their 
report  respecting  the  room  where  General  Prescot 
is  confined,  and  the  state  of  the  general's  health, 
which  was  read. 

*  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Benjamin  Franklin,  is  in  the 
Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  19,  III,  folio  215.  The  fol- 
lowing notes  in  the  writing  of  Franklin  are  in  No.  78,  XIX,  folio  7. 

"Agreed  to  set  Dr.  Huddlestone  at  Liberty  on  the  Terms  he 
mentions.  And  send  by  him  a  Proposition  to  Gen.  Carleton,  that 
it  be  Stipulated  on  both  Sides,  not  only  to  release  all  Surgeons; 
but  that  if  by  the  Fortune  of  War,  the  Hospital  of  either  Army 
should  fall  into  the  Power  of  the  other,  the  same  Care  should  be 
taken  of  the  Sick  and  Wounded  as  of  Friends,  and  that  neither 
they  nor  the  Attendants  of  the  Hospital  should  be  considered  as 
Prisoners.  And  if  Gov'  Carleton  should  not  agree  to  the  mutual 
release  of  Surgeons,  Dr.  Huddleston  is  to  be  on  his  Parole  to 
return  immediately.     .     . 

34 


William  Shippen,  Jr. 
(1736-1808) 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

March  i,  1776.  180 

Resolved,  That  the  Secret  Committee  be  empow- 
ered to  treat  with  the  owners  of  some  medicines 
lately  imported,  and  purchase  the  same  on  the  niost 
reasonable  terms  for  the  use  of  the  continent, 

March  7,  1776.  188 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  pro- 
vide medicine  chests  be  directed  to  supply  the  first 
and  third  New  Jersey  batallions  with  proper  medi- 
cine chests  and  instruments. 

March  11,  1776.  197 

Resolved,  That  the  committee  on  applications  and 
qualifications  &c.  be  directed  to  provide  6  medicine 
chests  for  the  6  Virginia  batallions. 

March  22,  1776.  225 

A  petition  from  Thorowgood  Smith,  and  others, 
was  presented  to  Congress,  and  read,  setting  forth, 
that  they  have  procured  a  vessel,  and  raised  money 
to  fit  her  out  as  a  privateer,  in  order  to  guard  and 
cruise  on  the  coast  of  Virginia,  and  praying  that  a 
commission  be  granted  to  William  Shippen,  to 
whom  they  propose  to  give  the  command  of  said 
vessel;  and  that  the  Congress  will  grant  them  a 
small  quantity  of  powder,  upon  their  making  satis- 
faction for  the  same: 

Resolved,  That  a  commission  be  granted  to  Wil- 
liam Shippen,  as  captain  of  the  above  mentioned 
vessel,  for  the  purposes  aforesaid. 

Resolved,  That  Captain  William  Shippen  be  sup- 
plied with  three  hundred  weight  of  powder  by  the 
Secret  Committee,  he  paying  for  the  same. 

March  23,  1776.  229 

The  Committee  of  Claims  reported  that  there  is 
due, 

35 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

To  Dr.  Jonathan  Potts,  for  attendance  on  the 
second  and  fourth  Pennsylvania  batallions,  the  sum 
of  125.6.9=67.6  dollars. 

March  30,  1776.  242-3 

Resolved,  That  each  regimental  surgeon  be  allow- 
ed a  mate: 

Resolved,  That  the  pay  of  a  surgeon's  mate  be  18 
dollars  per  month. 

Resolved,  That  (suitable  chirurgical)  instruments 
be  purchased  with  each  medicine  chest. 

April  II,  1776.  271 

To  Dr.  Jonathan  Potts,  for  attending  the  prison- 
ers at  Reading,  the  sum  of  £28.15.0  (=76.6  dollars); 
and  for  sundry  medicines,  &c.  provided  for  the  mid- 
dle department,  the  sum  of  £50.9.1  (=  134.6  dollars,) 
amounting,  together,  to  the  sum  of  £79.4.1=211.2 
dollars. 

April  29,  1776.  317 

A  letter  from  Thomas  BuIIit  and  a  petition  from 
Dr.  J.  Potts,  was  presented  to  Congress  and  read.* 

Resolved,  That  they  be  referred  to  the  foregoing 
committee. 

May  6,  1776.  330 

Resolved,  that  the  convention,  or  committee  or 
council  of  safety  of  Virginia,  be  empowered  to  ap- 
point surgeons  to  the  batallions  raised  in  said  col- 
ony, for  the  service  of  the  continent. 

May  10,  1776.  344 

G.  6.  That  Dr.  Potts  be  taken  into  the  Pay  of  the 
Continent  and  be  employed  in  the  Canada  Depart- 
ment or  at  Lake  George  as  the  Genl  Schuyler  shall 

"...  The  petition  of  Dr.  Potts  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  No.  78,  XVIII.  folio  56.     .     .     . 

36 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

think  fit.  But  that  this  Recommendation  be  not 
considered  so  as  to  supersede  Dr.  Stringer.  That  the 
Pay  of  Dr.  Potts  be  Dollars  per  Mo. 

May  II,  1776.  348 

Resolved,  That  two  sets  of  trepanning  instruments 
be  sent  to  Virginia  for  the  use  of  the  surgeons  of  the 
continental  troops  there;  and  that  two  sets  of  tre- 
panning instruments,  and  100  lb.  of  Peruvian  bark, 
be  sent  to  North  Carolina,  for  the  use  of  tlie  conti- 
nental troops  in  that  colony. 

May  13,  1776.  350 

Sundry  petitions  were  presented  to  Congress  and 
read,  viz. :  One  from  Benjamin  Church,  accompanied 
with  one  from  Benjamin  Church,  Samuel  Church 
and  Edward  Church,  and  a  certificate  from  three 
Doctors  (respecting  the  health  of  Dr.  B.  Church;) 
one  from  John  Connolly  and  John  Smith,  accom- 
panied with  a  letter  from  Dr.  (Thomas)  Cadwala- 
der:i« 

May  14,  1776.  352 

The  committee  to  whom  the  petition  of  Dr.  Ben- 
jamin Church,  now  confined  in  gaol  in  Norwich,  in 
the  colony  of  Connecticut,  and  also  a  petition  from 
Benjamin,  Samuel,  and  Edward  Church,  together 
with  a  certificate  from  physicians,  respecting  the 
dangerous  state  of  the  aforesaid  Dr.  Church,  were 
referred,  brought  in  their  report,  which  was  read 
and  agreed  to:  Whereupon, 

Resolved,  That  Dr.  Benjamin  Church  be  sent  to 
the  colony  of  Massachusetts  bay,  and  that  the  coun- 

1"  The  petition  of  Connoly  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  No.  78,  V,  folio  39.  That  of  Smyth  is  in  No.  78,  XX, 
folio  29.  That  of  Cadwalader  is  in  No.  78,  V,  folio  43. 

37 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

cil  of  the  said  colony  be  requested  to  take  a  recog- 
nisance from  him,  with  two  good  sureties,  in  such 
penalty  as  they  shall  think  sufficient,  not  being  less 
than  one  thousand  pounds,  lawful  money,  for  his 
appearance  before  such  court  as  shall  be  erected  for 
his  trial,  and  at  such  time  and  place  as  such  court 
shall  direct,  and  to  abide  the  judgment  of  the  same; 
and  that  they  be  farther  requested,  to  take  his 
parole,  not  to  hold  any  correspondence  with  the 
enemies  of  the  United  Colonies,  or  at  any  time,  to 
depart  out  of  the  same  colony,  without  their  license; 
and  that,  upon  the  performance  thereof,  the  said 
Dr.  Benjamin  Church  be  set  at  liberty. 

May  1 6,  1776.  358 

A  letter  from  General  Washington,  of  May  (15), 
enclosing  a  letter  (to  him)  from  Dr.  Stringer.^^ 

Resolved,  That  the  letter  from  Dr.  Stringer  to 
General  Washington,  be  referred  to  the  committee 
appointed  to  prepare  medicine  chests: 

May  18,  1776.  284 

That  a  continental  Hospital  be  established  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  a  director  to  the  same  be  immediately 
appointed  by  Congress. 

May  22,  1776.  378 

15.  That Surgeons  and mates  be  added 

to  the  Hospital  in  Canada  and  that  DoctT  Stringer 
be  directed  to  procure  them.^^ 

June  5,  1776.  419 

That  the  pay  of  the  regimental  surgeons  be  aug- 

11  The  letter  of  Washington  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continenta 
Congress,  No.  152,  I,  folio  685.  It  is  printed  in  Writings  of  Wash- 
ington (Ford),  IV,  80. 

12  Against  this  paragraph  is  written:  "Referr'd  to  to-morrow." 

38 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

nicntcd  to  thirty  three  dollars  and  one  third  of  a 
dollar  a  month. 

June  6,  1776.  424 

Resolved,  That  doctor  Jonathan  Potts  be  em- 
ployed as  a  physician  and  surgeon  in  the  Canada 
department,  or  at  Lake  George,  as  the  general  shall 
direct;  but,  that  this  appointment  shall  not  super- 
sede Dr.  Stringer. 

June  17,  1776.  449,  453 

U.  6." 

R.  8.  That  the  committee,  appointed  to  provide 
medicines,  be  directed  to  send  a  proper  assortment 
of  medicines  to  Canada:  ^'' 

June  18,  1776.  460-461,  463 
geA  memorial  from  Dr.   (John)   Morgan,  director 

neral  and  chief  physician  of  the  Hospital,  was  laid 
before  Congress,  and  read:  ^^ 

Resolved,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  committee 
appointed  to  provide  medicines. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  (Thomas)  Heyward  (Jr.),  and 
Mr.  (Lyman)  Hall  be  added  to  the  committee  for 
providing  medicines. 

June  19,  1776.  466 

To  Mary  Thomas,  for  nursing  and  boarding  two 
of  Captain  Benezet's  men,  in  the  small  pox,  the 
sum  of  £4.10.0=12  dollars: 

Ordered,  That  the  said  accounts  be  paid. 

''  This  paragraph,  relating  to  the  appointment  of  Dr.  Jonathan 
Potts,  is  stricken  out  of  the  Jefferson  report,  having  been  printed 
under  June  6,  p.  424,  ante. 

^^  In  the  Jefferson  report  this  paragraph  read:  "Resolved,  That 
a  proper  assortment  of  medicines  be  sent  to  Canada."  Against  it 
Harrison  has  written  "Com^?  already  appointed  to  provide 
medicines." 

'^  This  memorial  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
No.  41,  VI,  folio  3. 

39 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,   U.S.A. 

Resolved,  That  the  committee  for  preparing  medi- 
cine chests,  be  directed  to  send  a  chest  of  medicines 
to  the  surgeon  of  said  batalhon. 

A  memorial  from  the  mates  of  the  Hospital  was 
laid  before  Congress  and  read:^^ 

Resolved,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  committee  for 
providing  medicines. 

June  20,  1776.  469 

To  Abraham  Mills,  for  nursing  and  boarding  six 
soldiers  in  the  small  pox,  the  sum  of  £12.14.8= 
33  36/90  dollars: 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  five  be  appointed 
to  consider  what  provision  ought  to  be  made  for 
such  as  are  wounded  or  disabled  in  the  land  or  sea 
service,  and  report  a  plan  for  that  purpose: 

The  members  chosen,  Mr.  (Robert  Treat)  Paine, 
Mr.  (Francis  Lightfoot)  Lee,  Mr.  (Lyman)  Hall, 
Mr.  (William)  Ellery,  and  Mr.  (Francis)  Lewis. 

July  8,  1776.  528 

Resolved,  That  the  committee  for  providing  medi- 
cines, be  directed  to  supply  the  militias  aforesaid, 
with  a  sufficient  quantity  of  suitable  medicines. 

July  12,  1776.  $s6 

The  committee  appointed  to  take  into  considera- 
tion the  memorial  of  the  director  general  of  the 
American  hospital,  brought  in  their  report,  which 
was  read: 

Ordered,  To  lie  on  the  table. 

July  15,  1776.  562 

Resolved,  That  a  chief  physician  be  appointed  for 

1^  This  memorial  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
No.  41,  III,  folio  167. 

40 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

the  flying  camp,  and  that  his  pay  be  four  dollars 
per  day: 

The  ballots  being  taken  (and  examined,) 

William  Shippen,  JunT  was  elected. 

July  17,  1776.  568-571 

The  Congress  took  into  consideration  the  report 
of  the  committee  on  the  memorial  of  the  director 
general  of  the  American  hospital;  Whereupon, 

[Resolved,  For  the  better  Government  of  the  gen- 
eral Hospital  of  the  American  Army,  for  explaining 
and  ascertaining  more  fully  the  duties  of  the  Direct- 
or-General, the  directors  of  Hospitals,  the  Surgeons 
and  Mates,  both  Hospital  and  Regimental:] 

Resolved,  That  the  number  of  hospital  surgeons 
and  mates  be  increased,  in  proportion  to  the  aug- 
mentation of  the  army,  not  exceeding  one  surgeon 
and  five  mates  to  every  five  thousand  men,  to  be 
reduced  when  the  army  is  reduced,  or  when  there  is 
no  further  occasion  for  so  great  a  number: 

That  as  many  persons  be  employed  in  the  severa 
hospitals,  in  quahty  of  store  keepers,  stewards,  man- 
agers, and  nurses,  as  are  necessary  for  the  good  of 
the  service,  for  the  time  being,  to  be  appointed  by 
the  directors  of  the  receiving  hospitals: 

That  the  several  regimental  chests  of  medicines, 
and  chirurgical  instruments,  which  now  are  or  here- 
after shall  be,  in  the  possession  of  the  regimental 
surgeons,  be  subject  to  the  inspection  and  enquiry 
of  the  respective  directors  of  hospitals,  and  the  di- 
rector general;  and  that  the  said  regimental  surgeons 
shall,  from  time  to  time,  when  thereto  required,  ren- 
der account  of  the  said  medicines  and  instruments 
to  the  said  directors,  or  if  there  be  no  director  in 
any  particular  department,  to  the  director  general; 
the  siad  accounts  to  be  transmitted  to  the  director 
general,  and  by  him  to  this  Congress;  and  the  medi- 

41 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

cines  and  instruments  not  used  by  ant  regimental 
surgeon,  to  be  returned  when  the  regiment  is  re- 
duced, to  the  respective  directors,  and  an  account 
thereof  by  them  rendered  to  the  director  general, 
and  by  him  to  this  Congress: 

Resolved,  That  an  Additional  Apothecary  with 
such  Number  of  Mates  as  the  Service  may  require, 
be  allowed,  under  the  Title  of  Apothecary  to  the 
Army,  and  in  subordination  to  the  ^General  Hospital 
Apothecary  of  the  General  Hospital.^'' 

That  the  several  directors  of  hospitals,  in  the  sev- 
eral departments,  and  the  regimental  surgeons, 
where  there  is  no  director,  shall  transmit  to  the  di- 
rector general  regular  returns  of  the  number  of  sur- 
geons' mates,  and  other  officers  employed  under 
them,  their  names  and  pay;  also,  an  account  of  th 
expenses  and  furniture  of  the  hospital  under  their 
direction;  and  that  the  director  general  make  report 
of  the  same,  from  time  to  time,  to  the  commander 
in  chief,  and  to  this  Congress: 

That  the  several  regimental  and  hospital  sur- 
geons, in  the  several  departments,  amke  weekly 
returns  of  their  sick  to  the  respective  directors  in 
their  departments: 

That  no  regimental  surgeon  be  allowed  to  draw 
upon  the  hospital  of  his  department,  for  any  stores 
except  medicines  and  instruments;  and  that,  when 
any  sick  person  shall  ;require  other  stores,  they  shall 
be  received  into  the  said  hospital,  and  the  rations 
of  the  said  sick  persops  be  stopped,  so  long  as  they 
are  in  the  siad  hospitals;  and  that  the  directors  of 
the  sevetal  hospitals  report  to  the  commissary  the 
names  of  the  sick,  when  received  into,  and  when 
discharged  from  the  hospital,  and  make  a  like  re- 
turn to  the  Board  of  Treasury: 

1^  A  paragraph  that  wa^  not  r.itaiaod. 

42 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

That  all  extra  expenses  for  bandages,  old  linen, 
and  other  articles  necessary  for  the  service,  incurred 
by  any  regimental  surgeon,  be  paid  by  the  director 
ol  that  department,  with  the  approbation  ol  tha 
commander  thereof: 

That  no  more  medicines  belonging  to  the  conti- 
nent be  disposed  of  ^by  sale  till  the  army  is  fully 
supplied''  till  further  order  of  Congress: 

Resolved,  that  no  Surgeon  or  Surgeon's  Mate  shall 
receive  a  Commo  as  such  in  the  Army,  without  hav- 
ing first  undergone  an  Exam  ination  by  the  director 
ot  the  hospital  of  the  Department  in  which  he  may 
desire  employment  or  the  director  GenI  and  ob- 
tained a  Certificate  from  the  Commdr  and  director 
of  that  department,  or  the  Director  Genl,  of  his 
Abilities  and  knowledge  in  his  business. ^^ 

That  the  pay  of  the  hospital  surgeons  be  increased 
to  one  dollar  and  two  thirds  of  a  dollar  by  the  day; 
the  pay  of  the  hospital  mates  be  increased  to  one 
dollar  by  the  day;  and  the  pay  of  the  hospital 
apothecary  to  one  dollar  and  two  thirds  of  a  dollar 
by  the  day;  and  that  the  hospital  surgeons  and 
mates  take  rank  of  regimental  surgeons  and  mates: 

Resolved,  that  the  Storekeepers  of  the  several 
Hospitals  be  paid  by  the  month,  and  the  Stewards 
and  Managers  of  the  said  Hospitals  be  paid  by  the 
Month  a  sum  not  exceeding  dollars. ^^ 

Resolved,  That  the  duties  and  privileges  of  the 
Surgeons  and  Mates,  not  heretofore  particularly  as- 
certained, be  conformable  to  the  established  Usage 
of  other  well  regulated  Armies,  as  far  as  is  consist- 
ent with  the  Good  of  the  Service,  until  otherwise 
settled  and  directed  by  this  Congress. ^^ 

Resolved,  that  the  Appointments  of  Surgeons  (Sur- 
geons Mates),  Storekeepers,  Stewards,  Managers  and 

1*  A  paragraph  that  was  not  retained. 

43 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

Nurses,  heretofore  mentioned,  shall  be  made  by  the 
Director  General  in  the  Northern  and  Eastern  De- 
partments; which  may  hereafter  be  app'd  in  that 
dep't;  and  in  the  Southern  Dep't  by  the  director  of 
that  dep't  with  the  approba.  of  the  Commandr  of 
the  respective  departments.^^ 

Resolved,  that  it  be  recommend  to  Congress  to 
purchase  the  Medicines  (now  in  Phila)  belonging  to 
Doctor  Morgan. ^^ 

Resolved,  that  in  all  levies  of  Troops  hereafter 
to  be  raised  for  the  Service  of  the  Continent  a  stop- 
page of  out  of  the  month's  pay  of  each  Man  be 
made  for  the  Use  and  support  of  the  several  Conti- 
nental Hospitals.^^ 

That  the  director  general,  and  the  several  direct- 
ors of  hospitals,  be  empowered  to  purchase,  with 
the  approbation  of  the  commander  of  the  respective 
departments,  medicines,  and  instruments  for  the 
use  of  their  respective  hospitals,  and  draw  upon  the 
pay  master  for  the  same,  and  make  report  of  such 
purchases  to  Congress.^" 

July  20,  1776.  595 

Resolved,  That  Dr.  Senter  be  recommended  to 
Dr.  Morgan;  who  is  desired  to  examine  him;  and  if, 
(upon  examination,)  he  finds  him  qualified,  to  em- 
ploy him  in  the  hospital  as  a  surgeon. 

July  26,  1776.  612 

Resolved,  That  an  order  for  2,000  dollars  be 
drawn  on  the  treasurers  in  favor  of  Dr.  W.  Shippen; 
he  to  be  accountable. 

1'  A  paragraph  that  was  not  retained. 

^^  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Thomas  Stone,  is  in  the  Papers 
of  the  Continental  Csngress,  No.  19,  IV,  folio  181. 

44 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

July  31,  1776.  622 

Resolved,  That  the  committee  for  providing  medi- 
cines be  directed  to  provide,  and  send  forward,  such 
a  quantity  of  medicines  as  may  be  necessary  for  the 
Hospital  in  the  northern  army: 

That  the  said  committee  be  directed  to  procure 
and  send  forward  such  a  quantity  of  medicines  as 
may  be  necessary  for  the  hospital  in  the  southern 
department. 

August  6,  1776.  633 

Resolved,  That  the  committee  for  procuring  medi- 
cines be  directed  to  supply  the  director  general  of 
the  Hospital  with  such  medicines  as  he  may  want. 

August  7,  1776.  636 

Resolved,  That  Dr.  (Benjamin)  Rush  be  added  to 
the  committee  for  procuring  medicines. 

August  16,  1776.  661 

A  petition  from  Dr.  Samuel  Stringer,  was  present- 
ed to  Congress  and  read: 

Resolved,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Medical  Com- 
mittee. 

Resolved,  That  the  Medical  Committee  be  em- 
powered to  purchase  such  medicines  as  they  judge 
proper  and  useful  for  the  army. 

August  20,  1776.  673 

The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  peti- 
tion of  Dr.  Stringer  brought  in  their  report,  which 
was  taken  into  consideration;  whereupon, 

Resolved,  That  Dr.  Morgan  was  appointed  direct- 
or general  and  physician  in  chief  of  the  American 
hospital : 

That  Dr.  Stringer  was  appointed  director  and 
physician  of  the  hospital  in  the  northern  depart- 
ment only. 

45 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,   U.S.A. 

That  every  director  of  a  hospital  possesses  the  ex- 
clusive right  of  appointing  surgeons  and  hospital 
officers  of  all  kinds,  agreeable  to  the  resolutions  of 
Congress  of  the  17  of  July,  in  his  own  department, 
unless  otherwise  directed  by  Congress: 

That  Dr.  Stringer  be  authorized  to  appoint  a  sur- 
geon for  the  fleet  now  fitting  out  upon  the  lakes: 

That  a  Druggist  be  appointed  in  Philadelphia 
whose  business  it  shall  be,  to  receive  and  deliver  all 
medicines,  instruments,  and  shop  furniture  for  the 
benefit  of  the  United  States: 

That  a  salary  of  thirty  dollars  a  month  be  paid  to 
the  said  druggist  for  his  labour. 

Congress  proceeded  to  the  election  of  a  druggist, 
and,  the  ballots  being  taken.  Dr.  William  Smith  was 
elected. 

August  26,  1776.  705 

Provided,  that  all  such  officers  and  soldiers  that 
may  be  entitled  to  the  aforesaid  pension,  and  are 
found  to  be  capable  of  doing  guard  or  garrison  duty, 
shall  be  formed  in  a  corps  of  invalids,  and  subject 
to  the  said  duty;  and  all  officers,  marines,  and  sea- 
men of  the  navy  who  shall  be  entitled  to  the  pen- 
sion aforesaid,  and  shall  be  found  capable  of  doing 
any  duty  on  board  the  navy,  or  any  department 
thereof,  shall  be  liable  to  be  so  employed: 

Ordered.     That  the  above  be  published. ^^ 

The  Medical  Committee,  to  whom  Dr.  M'Henry's 
petition  was  referred,  brought  in  their  report:  Where- 
upon, 

Resolved,  That  Congress  have  a  proper  sense  of 
the  merit  and  services  of  Dr.  M'Henry,  and  recom- 
mend it  to  the  directors  of  the  diff"erent  hospitals 
belonging  to   the   United   States,   to   appoint   Dr. 

z^  Printed  in  the  Pennsylvania  Gazette,  4  September,  1776. 

46 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

M'Henry  to  the  first  vacancy  that  shall  happen,  of 
a  surgeon's  berth  in  any  of  the  said  hospitals. 

August  29,  1776.  717 

That  the  said  committee  be  directed  to  import 
the  medicines  ordered  by  the  Medical  Committee. 

September  7,  1776.  742 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  (Gustavus)  Risberg,  the  as- 
sistant to  Colonel  Biddle,  be  directed  to  take  proper 
measures  for  providing  the  sick  soldiers  in  Philadel- 
phia, with  proper  lodgings  and  attendance. 

September  18,  1776.  781 

That  the  Medical  Committee  send  an  assortment 
of  proper  medicines  to  the  northern  army:  ^^ 

September  24,  1776.  812-813 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  five  be  appointed 
to  devise  ways  and  means  for  effectually  providing 
the  northern  army  with  provisions  and  medicines, 
and  supplying  their  other  necessary  wants: 

The  members  chosen,  Mr.  (Benjamin)  Rush,  Mr. 
(Lyman)  Hall,  Mr.  (Samuel)  Chase,  Mr.  (Thomas) 
Johnson  and  Mr.  (Richard)  Stockton. 

Resolved,  That  the  Medical  Committee  be  direct- 
ed to  apply  to  the  council  of  safety  of  Pennsylvania, 
for  a  quantity  of  medicines;  to  be  repaid  in  kind  or 
in  cash,  as  they  shall  chuse. 

September  25,  1776.  822,  823,  826 

The  committee  appointed  to  devise  ways  and 
means  for  providing  the  northern  army  with  pro- 

22  This  report,  dated  "at  a  board  of  war,  Sepf.  I4th,  1776"  and 
in  the  writing  of  Richard  Peters,  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continen- 
tal Congress,  No.  147,  I,  folio  5.  It  is  endorsed:  "partly  agreed  to. 
Two  paragraphs  postpon'd,  Sepf.  18,  1776." 

47 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

visions,  medicines  and  other  necessaries,  brought 
in  a  report,  which  was  taken  into  consideration; 
Whereupon,     .     .     . 

That  the  committee  be  empowered  to  make  regu- 
lations for  the  hospitals  in  the  northern  depart- 
ment, and  to  remove  or  suspend  any  person  em- 
ployed therein,  and  to  employ  such  as  they  may 
think  necessary  and  proper;  and  that  they  report 
to  Congress  the  state  and  condition  of  the  army, 
and  any  further  regulations  which  they  may  think 
necessary,  for  the  better  government  and  supplying 
the  said  army: 

That  the  committee  consist  of  [three]  two,  and 
that  to  Morrow  be  assigned  for  electing  the  said 
committee. 

To  the  steward  of  the  Pennsylvania  hospital,  for 
boarding  William  Whiting,  a  wounded  soldier,  four 
weeks,  by  order  of  Congress,  5  30/90  dollars: 

September  30,  1776.  836-837 

That  it  be  recommended  to  the  legislatures  of 
the  United  States,  to  appoint  gentlemen  in  their  re- 
spective states,  skilful  in  physic  and  surgery,  to  ex- 
amine those  who  offer  to  serve  as  surgeons  or  sur- 
geons' mates  in  the  army  and  navy;  and  that  no 
surgeon  or  mate  shall  hereafter  receive  a  commis- 
sion or  warrant  to  act  as  such,  in  the  army  or  navy, 
who  shall  not  produce  a  certificate  from  some  or 
one  of  the  examiners  so  to  be  appointed,  to  prove 
that  he  is  qualified  to  execute  the  office: 

That  all  regimental  surgeons  and  mates,  as  well 
as  those  of  the  hospitals,  be  subject  to  the  direction 
and  controul  of  the  directors  in  the  several  depart- 
ments: 

That  no  soldier  be  discharged  from  the  service  as 
disabled,  unless  the  certificate  of  disability  be  coun- 
tersigned by  the  director,   assistant  physician,   or 

48 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

first  surgeon  of  the  hospital,  nor  be  excused  from 
duty  for  sickness,  unless  the  certificate  of  sickness 
be  countersigned  by  one  of  those  persons,  where  ac- 
cess may  be  had  to  them. 

Resolved,  That  the  remainder  of  the  said  report  be 
postponed. 

October  7,  1776.  852-3 

.  .  .  .  Three  Camp  Kettles  for  the  use  of  the 
Hospital,  to  W.  V.  Wimple  Surgeon;     .     .     . 

That  said  Nicholson  delivered  five  Camp  Kettles, 
to  Colo.  Hazen,  3  ditto  to  Doctr.  Lynn  for  the  Gen- 
eral Hospital,  and  3  ditto  for  the  red  hospital  at  St. 
Foys. 

October  9,  1776.  857-8,  9 

Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  report 
of  the  committee  who  went  to  the  camp;  ^^  Where- 
upon, 

Resolved,  That  no  regimental  hospitals  be,  in  fu- 
ture, allowed  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  general 
hospital: 

That  John  Morgan,  EsqF  provide  and  superin- 
tend a  hospital,  at  a  proper  distance  from  the  camp, 
for  the  army  posted  on  the  east  side  of  Hudson's 
river. 

That  William  Shippen  (Jun.),  EsqT  provide  and 
superintend  an  hospital  for  the  army,  in  the  state 
of  New  Jersey : 

That  each  of  the  hospitals  be  supplied  by  the  re- 
spective directors  with  such  a  number  of  surgeons, 
apothecaries,  surgeons'  mates,  and  other  assistants, 
and  also  with  such  quantities  of  medicine,  bedding, 
and  other  necessaries,  as  they  shall  judge  expedient: 

23  See  note  under  October  3,  p.  844,  ante. 

2*  This  sentence  is  in  the  writing  of  John  Hancock. 

49 


HI*TORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

That  they  make  weekly  returns  to  Congress  and 
the  commander  in  chief,  of  the  officers  and  assist- 
ants of  each  denomination,  and  also  the  number  of 
sick  and  deceased  in  their  respective  hospitals: 

That  the  regimental  surgeons  be  directed  to  send 
to  the  general  hospitals  such  officers  and  soldiers  of 
their  respective  regiments,  as,  confined  by  wounds 
or  other  disorders,  shall  require  nurses  or  constant 
attendance,  and,  from^  time  to  time,  to  apply  to  the 
quarter  master  general,  or  his  deputy,  for  conve- 
nient waggons  for  this  purpose;  also,  (that  they  ap- 
ply to  the  directors  in  their  respective  departments, 
for  medicines  and  other  necessaries:)  ^^ 

That  the  wages  of  nurses  be  augmented  to  one 
dollar  per  week: 

That  the  commanding  officer  of  each  regiment  be 
directed,  once  a  week,  to  send  a  commission  officer 
to  visit  the  sick  of  his  respective  regiment  in  the 
general  hospital,  and  report  their  state  to  him: 

That  for  the  promoting  health  in  the  army,  the 
commissary  general  be  directed  to  cause  the  same 
to  be  well  supplied  with  Indian  meal  and  vegetables. 

October  14,  1776.  869 

A  letter  ....  One  from  General  Washington, 
'of  the  7,  enclosing  a  letter  from  Dr.  Morgan,  were 
laid  before  Congress,  and  read. 

Resolved,  .  .  .  That  the  letter  from  Dr.  Morgan, 
enclosed  in  General  Washington's  letter,  be  referred 
to  the  Medical  Committee. 

November  4,  1776.  921 

It  being  represented  that  some  of  the  marines  in 
the  barracks  are  sick. 

Resolved,  That  Doct""  Rush  be  desired  to  take 
them  under  his  care,  and  see  them  properly  provided 
for. 

50 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

November  12,  1776.  940 

A  letter,  .  .  .  and  one,  of  the  9,  from  Dr.  Ship- 
pen,  were  read.^^ 

November  13,  1776.  948 

To  Doctor  Samuel  Wilson,  for  board,  attendance, 
and  medicine,  to  sick  soldiers  of  the  6  Virginia  regi- 
ment, 33  60/90  dollars: 

That  there  should  be  paid  to  Thomas  Armer,  on 
account  of  Elizabeth  Robinson,  for  so  much  short 
paid  on  settlement  of  her  account,  the  14th  October 
last,  for  board,  &c.  of  sick  soldiers  belonging  to  Cap- 
tain Grier's  company,  10  dollars: 

That  there  should  be  paid  to  the  Pennsylvania 
hospital,  for  the  support  and  cloathing  of  John 
Hughes,  a  wounded  soldier,  36  54/90  dollars: 

November  19,  1776.  965 

That,  on  any  sick  or  disabled  non-commissioned 
officer  or  soldier,  being  sent  to  any  hospital  or  sick 
quarters,  the  captain  or  commandant  of  the  troop 
or  company  to  which  he  belongs,  shall  send  to  the 
surgeon,  or  director  of  the  said  hospital,  or  give  to 
the  non-commissioned  officer  or  soldier,  so  in  the 
hospital  or  quarters,  a  certificate,  (countersigned  by 
the  pay  master  of  the  regiment,  if  he  be  with  the 
regiment,)  of  what  pay  is  due  to  such  sick  non-com- 
missioned officer  or  private,  at  the  time  of  his  enter- 
ing the  hospital  or  quarters;  and  the  captain  or  com- 
mandant of  the  troop  or  company,  shall  not  receive 
the  pay  of  the  said  soldier  in  hospital  or  quarters, 
or  include  him  in  any  pay  abstract  during  his  con- 
tinuance therein.  And,  in  case  any  non-commis- 
sioned officer  or  soldier  shall  be  discharged  from 

^  The  letter  of  Dr.  Shippen  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  No.  78,  XX,  folio  75. 

51 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

the  hospital  or  quarters,  as  unfit  for  farther  service, 
a  certificate  shall  be  given  him,  by  the  surgeon  or 
director,  of  what  pay  is  then  due  to  him;  and  the 
said  non-commissioned  officer  or  soldier,  so  dis- 
charged, shall  be  entitled  to  receive  his  pay  at  any 
pay  office,  or  from  any  pay  master  in  the  service  of 
the  United  States ;  the  said  pay  master  keeping  such 
original  certificate,  to  prevent  impositions,  and  giv- 
ing the  non-commissioned  officer  or  soldier  his  dis- 
charge, or  a  certified  copy  thereof,  mentioning,  at 
the  same  time,  his  having  been  paid: 

November  26,  1776.  983 

That  the  committee,  who  are  sent  to  the  camp, 
be  directed  to  make  particular  enquiry  into  the 
abuses  in  the  medical  department  in  the  army,  and 
report  thereon  to  Congress. 

November  28,  1776.  989 

The  Medical  Committee,  to  whom  Dr.  Shippen's 
letter  was  referred,  brought  in  a  report,  which  was 
taken  into  consideration;  Whereupon, 

Resolved,  That  Dr.  Morgan  take  care  of  such  sick 
and  wounded  of  the  army  of  the  United  States,  as 
are  on  the  east  side  of  Hudson's  river,  and  that  Dr. 
Shippen  take  care  of  such  of  the  said  sick  and 
wounded  as  are  on  the  west  side  of  Hudson's  river; 
and  that  they  both  be  directed  to  use  the  utmost 
diligence  in  superintending  the  surgeons  and  mates 
of  the  army,  so  that  the  sick  and  wounded  may  be 
effectually  provided  with  everything  necessary  for 
their  recovery. 

November  29,  1776.  990-991 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Mease  be  directed  to  supply 
the  sick  soldiers,  in  the  House  of  Employment  in 
Philadelphia,  with  one  shirt  apiece. 

52 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

Resolved,  That  the  Medical  Committee  be  directed 
to  provide  sufficient  quantities  of  antiscorbutics  for 
tlie  use  of  the  hospitals  in  the  northern  army: 

That  the  hospital  at  Fort  George  be  continued 
for  the  reception  of  soldiers  labouring  with  con- 
tagious diseases,  and  that  there  be  a  general  hospi- 
tal erected  on  Mount  Independence: 

That  a  suitable  spot  of  ground  for  a  garden  be 
enclosed  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  general  hospi- 
tal, to  supply  the  army  with  vegetables;  and  that 
labourers  be  hired  to  cultivate  it,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  an  overseer,  to  be  appointed  by  the  general 
or  commanding  officer: 

That  the  general,  or  commanding  officer,  in  each 
of  the  armies,  cause  strict  enquiries  to  be  made  into 
the  2^  conduct  of  the  directors  of  the  hospitals,  and 
their  surgeons,  officers,  and  servants,  and  of  the 
regimental  surgeons,  that  if  there  has  been  any  just 
grounds  of  complaint  in  those  departments,  the  of- 
fenders may  be  punished: 

That  the  colonel  or  commanding  officer  of  every 
regiment,  make  frequent  enquiry  into  the  health  of 
the  men  under  his  command,  and  report  the  state 
thereof,  with  any  negligence,  mal-practice,  or  other 
misconduct  of  the  surgeons  or  others,  to  the  general, 
and  to  Congress,  delivering  copies  of  such  reports 
to  all  persons  therein  accused: 

December  i,  1776.  998 

Resolved,  .  .  .  That  the  Medical  Committee  be 
directed  to  take  such  steps,  as  they  shall  judge 
proper,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  sick  of  the 
army. 

December  5,  1776.  1006 

Resolved,  That  it  be  and  is  earnestly  recommend- 

28  The  original  report  here  contained  "past  as  well  as  future." 

53 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

ed  to  the  council  of  safety  of  Pennsylvania,  to  pro- 
cure the  Pennsylvania  hospital,  for  the  purpose  of 
accommodating  the  sick  belonging  to  the  continen- 
tal army. 

Resolved,  That  the  Medical  Committee  be  em- 
powered to  procure  suitable  persons  to  take  care  of 
the  sick,  and  to  remove  them  to  such  convenient 
places  in  the  country,  as  they  shall  think  proper. 

December  12,  1776.  1024 

That  5,000  dollars  be  advanced  to  Dr.  Nicholas 
Way,  (of  Wilmington,)  for  the  public  service;  he  to 
be  accountable. 

Resolved,  That  the  continental  apothecary  be  di- 
rected immediately  to  pack  up  all  the  continental 
medicines,  and  send  them  to  the  quarter  master 
general : 

That  the  quarter  master  general  be  directed  to 
remove  all  the  medicines  belonging  to  the  continent 
in  this  city  to  a  place  of  security: 

Standing  Committees 
I 775-1 776 

Medicines  p.  1065 

14  September,  1775.  Eliphalet  Dyer 

Thomas  Lynch 
John  Jay 
John  Adams 
Francis  Lewis 
18  June,  1776.  Thomas  Hey  ward,  Jr. 

Lyman  Hall 
7  August,        1776.  Benjamin  Rush 

January  3,  I777-  I3 

Resolved,  That  Dr.  (Jonathan)  Elmore  and  Dr. 
(Nathan)  Brownson  be  added  to  the  Medical  Com- 
mittee. 

54 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

January  9,  1777.  24-5 

Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  report 
of  the  Medical  Committee;  Whereupon, 

Resolved,  That  Dr.  John  Morgan,  director  general, 
and  Dr.  Samuel  Stringer,  director  of  the  hospital  in 
the  northern  department  of  the  army  of  the  United 
States,  be,  and  they  are  hereby,  dismissed  from  any 
farther  service  in  said  offices: 

That  the  directors  of  the  military  hospitals 
throughout  the  army,  with  the  assistance  of  the  hos- 
pital and  regimental  surgeons  in  each  department, 
make  returns  to  Congress,  as  soon  as  possible,  of 
the  kind  and  quantity  of  medicines,  instruments, 
and  hospital  furniture  that  remain  on  hand. 

January  14,  1777.  34 

Resolved,  .  .  .  That  the  Medical  Committee 
provide  a  suitable  assortment  of  medicines,  and 
send  them  to  the  hospital  in  the  northern  army, 
with  all  possible  despatch,  Itogether  with  other  nec- 
essaries for  the  sick;  and  that  the  list  mentioned  by 
Dr.  Stringer,  in  a  paper,  No.  i,  enclosed  in  Genera 
Schuyler's  letter,  be  committed  to  them: 

That  Dr.  Potts  be  directed  to  repair  to  Ticon- 
deroga  without  delay: 

That  Dr.  Stringer  be  directed  to  deliver  to  Dr. 
Potts,  such  medicines,  and  other  medical  stores,  as 
may  be  in  his  hands  belonging  to  the  Continent. 

January  17,  1777.  44 

A  letter  with  a  number  of  papers,  from  Dr.  Mor- 
gan, were  laid  before  Congress,  and  referred  to  the 
Medical  Committee. 

January  18,  1777.  48 

To  Dr.  J(ohn)  Witherspoon,  for  wood  supplied 

55 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

the  troops  at  Princetown;  for  the  expences  of  sick 
soldiers;  and  the  allowance  due  to  John  M'Kinzie, 
a  prisoner  from  North  Carolina,  from  the  i8th  Oc- 
tober to  the  loth  January,  inclusive,  being  12  weeks, 
105  78/90  dollars:  ^^ 
Ordered,  That  the  said  accounts  be  paid. 

January  29,  1777.  70 

Resolved,  That  Dr.  Mackenzie,  who  has  the  care 
of  the  sick  in  the  hospital  in  Baltimore,  be  empow- 
ered to  appoint  a  mate  to  assist  him. 

January  31,  1777.  79-80,  81 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  four  be  appointed 
to  consider  what  honours  are  due  to  the  memory  of 
General  Warren,  (who  fell  in  the  battle  of  Bunker's- 
Hill,  the  17th  of  June,  1775;)  and  of  the  late  Gen- 
eral H.  Mercer,  who  died  on  the  12th  instant,  of 
the  wounds  he  received  on  the  3**  of  the  same 
month,  in  fighting  against  the  enemies  of  American 
liberty,  near  Princetown: 

The  members  chosen,  Mr.  (Benjamin)  Rush,  Mr. 
(Thomas)  Heyward,  Mr.  (Mann)  Page,  and  Mr. 
S(amuel)  Adams. 

To  Dr.  Samuel  Mackenzie,  for  sundry  medicine 
purchased  by  him  for  the  use  of  the  hospital  in  Bal- 
timore, 86  74/90  dollars: 

To  Dr.  John  Hindman,  for  sundry  medicine  sup- 
plied by  him  for  the  use  of  Colonel  Richardson's 
batallion  of  Maryland  forces,  20  6/90  dollars: 

February  4,  1777.  87 

A  memorial  from  Dr.  Thomas  Young  was  read, 
and  referred  to  the  medical  committee.     .     .     . 
Resolved,  That  Dr.  (Thomas)  Burke  be  added  to 

*'  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
132,  I,  folio  17. 

56 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

the  Medical  Committee;  and  that  he  be  appointed 
a  member  of  the  Marine  Committee,  in  the  room  of 
Mr.  (William)  Hooper,  who  has  leave  to  return 
home  for  some  time. 

February  5,  1777.  91 

Ordered,  That  the  Board  of  War  digest  the  said 
conference,  and  bring  in  a  proper  report  on  the 
several  matters  mentioned,  saving  what  relates  to 
medicines. 

Resolved,  That  the  Medical  Committee  be  empow- 
ered to  employ  a  suitable  person  in  each  of  the 
states,  to  purchase  such  medicines  as  they  shall  di- 
rect, for  the  use  of  the  army,  which  can  be  procured 
at  any  reasonable  rates. 

\\Ordered\\  That  the  said  committee  enquire  what 
is  become  of  the  medicines  which  Dr.  Morgan  took 
from  Boston,  and  which  Dr.  Stringer  bought  for  the 
northern  army,  and  take  measures  to  have  them 
secured,  and  applied  to  the  use  of  the  army. 

February  12,  1777.  no 

Ordered,  That  the  Medical  Committee  write  to 
General  Washington,  and  consult  him  on  the  pro- 
priety and  expediency  of  causing  such  of  the  troops 
in  his  army,  as  have  not  had  the  small  pox,  to  be 
inoculated,  and  recommend  that  measure  to  him,  if 
it  can  be  done  consistent  with  the  public  safety,  and 
good  of  the  service. 

February  20,  1777.  139 

To  Dr.  Frederick  Phile,  for  the  amount  of  his  ac- 
count for  medicine  and  attendance  to  the  German 
batallion,  in  Philadelphia,  (£74  16  6=)  199  48/90 
dollars:  .     .     . 

Ordered,  That  the  said  accounts  be  paid. 

57 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

At  a  Board  of  War,  2d^  Feb^.,  1777. 
Agreed  to  report  to  Congress:  .... 
That  the  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Maryland  be 
requested  to  deliver  to  Doctor  McKensie  so  much 
Medicines   of  the  following  Denominations  as   he 
shall  want  and  they  can  spare,  to  enable  him  to 
inoculate  the  Continental  Troops  in  this  Town,  in 
the  following  Proportions  for  one  hundred  Men. 
Six  ounces  Calomel 
Two  Pounds  Jallop 
Three  Pounds  Nitre 

Elix""  Vitriol 
One  Pound  Peruvian  Bark 
One  Pound  Virginia  Snake  Root.^^ 

February  22,  1777.  143 

Resolved,  .  .  .  That  1,500  dollars  be  paid  to  Dr. 
Samuel  M'Kinzie,  for  the  use  of  the  hospital  in  Bal- 
timore; he  to  be  accountable. 

February  25,  1777.  155,  156 

Two  officers  of  the  2d  and  7th  Virginia  batallions, 
who  were  left  to  bring  up  the  baggage  of  their  re- 
spective batallions,  and  a  surgeon's  mate  belonging 
to  the  2d  batallion,  of  the  Virginia  forces,  being  ar- 
rived in  Baltimore,  applied  for  two  months'  pay 
(for  themselves  and  the  men  with  them,)  to  enable 
them  to  proceed  with  their  companies. 

Resolved,  That  they  be  referred  to  M""-  Jonathan 
Hudson,  who  is  directed  to  pay  the  said  officers  and 
[their]  men  [one]  two  months'  pay;  [and  to  the  sur- 
geon two  months'  pay] ;  and  return  an  account  to  the 
General,  and  to  the  pay  master  general. 

^^  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
147,  I,  folio  85. 

58 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

Doctor  (John)  Witherspoon,  having  represented 
o  Congress  that  the  situation  of  his  private  affairs 
requires  his  returning  home  for  a  short  time,  desires 
leave  of  absence. 

Resolved,  That  leave  be  granted. 

To  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush,  for  sundry  medicine  and 
attendance  to  sick  soldiers  and  prisoners,  the  sum 
of  (£177.9=)  473  18/90  dollars: 

To  Richard  Stockton,  Esq.  and  to  be  paid  to  Dr. 
Benjamin  Rush,  for  the  hire  of  two  horses,  a  sulky, 
&c.  for  his  journey  to  Ticonderoga  last  fall,  by  order 
of  Congress,  151  30/90  dollars: 

February  27,  1777.  16 1-4 

The  Medical  Committee,  to  whom  the  report  on 
the  hospital  was  re-committed,  brought  in  a  report, 
which  was  read: 

The  Medical  Committee  having  taken  into  their 
consideration  a  plan  ^^  for  establishing  Military  Hos- 
pitals, [transmitted  to  Congress  by  General  Wash- 
ington], agree  to  report — 

Section  i.  That  the  Continent  be  divided  into 
three  districts.  The  Middle  to  extend  from  Hudsons 
river  to  Potomac.  The  Southern  to  extend  from 
Potomac  to  Georgia,  and  the  Northern  from  Hud- 
sons river  to  Quebec  or  Crown  Point. 

2.  That  there  be  a  Surgeon  and  Physician  Gen'*  ^^ 
with  a  suitable  number  of  Senior  ph  ysicians,  Senior 
Surgeons  and  mates  to  each  district.  That  the  sick 
be  taken  care  of  by  the  physicians,  and  the  wound- 
ed by  the  Surgeons  in  different  apartments. 

3.  That  there  be  a  physician  and  Surgeon  General 

^'  This  plan,  in  the  writing  of  William  Shippen,  is  in  the  Papers 
of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  22,  folio  9.  It  was  prepared  by 
Doctors  Shippen  and  John  Cochran,  and  was  transmitted  to 
Congress  by  Washington,  February  14,  1777. 

59 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

with  the  main  army  whose  business  it  shall  be  to 
attend  the  general  and  principal  Officers  of  the 
Army,  to  enquire  into  the  quality  of  the  food  of  the 
Soldiers,  to  superintend  the  regimental  Surgeons  and 
Mates,  and  to  attend  when  called  upon  in  consulta- 
tion with  them  in  all  extraordinary  cases. 

4.  That  there  be  an  Apothecary  General  whose 
business  it  shall  be  to  purchase  such  medicines  and 
instruments  as  shall  be  judged  necessary  by  the 
Surgeons  and  physicians  general  of  the  Army.  That 
he  have  the  liberty  of  appointing  three  assistant 
Apothecaries  in  different  parts  of  the  United  States, 
in  order  to  supply  with  the  more  convenience  the 
several  hospitals,  and  regimental  and  Naval  Sur- 
geons with  medicines  and  instruments. 

5.  That  there  be  an  Inspector  General  of  the 
Army  of  the  United  States  whose  business  it  shall 
be  to  visit  the  Military  hospitals  and  Apothecaries 
Shops  in  every  part  of  the  Continent;  to  examine 
the  medicines  and  instruments  belonging  to  the 
States;  to  enquire  into  the  conduct  of  the  several 
Officers  in  the  medical  department  and  report  to 
the  Congress,  and  Commander  in  chief  at  least  once 
a  month. 

6.  That  the  Surgeons  and  Physicians  General  of 
the  hospitals  have  the  liberty  of  appointing  hospital 
Apothecaries,  senior  Physicians,  and  Surgeons, 
Mates,  Purveyors,  Clerks,  Commissaries,  Wardmas- 
ters,  Servants,  Washerwomen,  Nurses,  Cooks,  and 
all  such  Officers  as  shall  be  necessary  for  the  accom- 
modation of  the  sick  and  wounded  in  the  hospitals. 

7.  That  the  business  of  the  Commissaries  shall  be 
to  provide  provisions,  and  liquors,  also  straw,  hay 
and  fuel  for  the  hospitals.  Also  to  bury  the  dead. 
He  shall  likewise  provide,  and  superintend  the  wag- 

60 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

gons  employed  in  transporting  tlie  sick,  and  wound- 
ed, and  the  baggage  of  the  hospitals. 

The  business  of  the  Purveyors  shall  be  to  take 
care  of,  and  distribute  the  provisions,  and  other  Ar- 
ticles provided  by  the  Commissaries  for  the  sick  and 
wounded  both  in  the  camp  and  hospitals. 

8.  The  business  of  the  Wardmaster  shall  be  to 
take  care  of  the  Arms,  Accoutrements,  and  cloathes 
of  the  sick  and  wounded,  and  to  take  care  that 
proper  attention  is  paid  to  the  cleanliness  of  the 
patients,  and  their  respective  wards,  rooms,  or  tents. 

9.  That  one  Clerk  be  allowed  to  every  general 
hospital,  and  one  Nurse  to  every  ten  sick.  That 
each  military  hospital  be  furnished  with  a  number 
of  shirts,  sheets,  blankets  and  cases  for  straw  for 
the  accommodation  of  the  sick. 

That  each  regiment  be  furnished  with  a  number 
of  hospital  tents  according  to  their  number  of  men, 
a  full  regiment  not  to  have  more  than  six  tents. 

10.  That  the  pay  of  the  Surgeons  and  physicians 
Generals,  be  four  dollars  and  six  rations  a  day. 
That  the  inspector  General  have  five  dollars  and  12 
rations  a  day.  That  the  pay  of  the  Apothecary 
General  be  3  dollars,  and  4  rations  a  day.  That  the 
assistant  Apothecaries  appointed  by  the  Apothecary 
General  have  one  dollar  and  1/3  per  day.  That  the 
Purveyors  of  the  hospitals  have  2  dollars  and  3 
rations  per  day,  and  that  the  pay  and  rations  of  the 
hospital  Apothecaries,  senior  Surgeons  and  Mates 
of  the  hospital  be  the  same  as  formerly  established 
by  Congress.  That  the  pay  and  rations  of  the  senior 
physicians  of  each  hospital  be  the  same  as  those  of 
a  senior  Surgeon. 

11.  That  the  pay  and  rations  of  the  commissaries 
of  the  hospitals  be  the  same  as  the  deputy  com- 
missaries in  the  Army. 

61 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

12.  That  the  pay  and  rations  of  the  Wardmasters 
be  the  same  as  that  of  a  Commissary. 

13.  That  the  pay  of  the  Clerks,  Cooks,  Nurses, 
Washerwomen,  Servants,  &c.,  be  regulated  by  the 
Physicians  and  Surgeons  General. 

14.  That  the  pay  and  rations  of  a  regimental  Sur- 
geon be  the  same  as  those  of  a  Captain  and  the  pay 
and  rations  of  a  Mate  be  the  same  as  those  of  a 
i^  Lieutenant. 

15-16.  That  no  senior  Physician,  or  Surgeon,  no 
hospital  Mate,  nor  shall  any  regimental  Surgeon  or 
Mate  be  appointed  in  the  Army  who  has  not  previ- 
ously undergone  an  examination  before  one  or  more 
of  the  Physicians  and  Surgeons  General,  or  before 
the  Inspector  General  of  the  medical  department. 

17.  That  a  Sergeants  guard  be  constantly  placed 
at  each  general  hospital  to  prevent  the  unnecessary 
visits  of  Strangers,  and  the  desertion  of  convalescent 
patients,  and  to  assist,  if  necessary  in  inforcing  the 
rules,  and  orders  of  the  Surgeons,  and  physicians  of 
the  hospitals. 

18.  That  the  Officers  of  the  several  regimental 
companies  to  which  the  sick  and  wounded  belong  be 
ordered  to  concur  by  means  of  their  Authority  with 
the  Surgeons  and  physicians  in  taking  care  of  their 
respective  Soldiers. 

19.  That  the  physicians  and  Surgeons  General 
with  the  Inspector  General  of  the  medical  depart- 
ment be  authorized  to  make  such  further  improve- 
ments in  this  plan  for  regulating  the  medical  de- 
partment as  the  exigencies  and  situation  of  the 
Army  may  make  necessary,  and  that  they  report  the 
same  when  made  to  Congress  for  their  Approbation. 

20.  That  it  be  recommended  to  each  of  the  States 
to  make  suitable  provision  for  the  maintainance  of 
such  maimed,  and  incurable  Soldiers  and  Seamen  as 

62 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

shall  be  discharged  from  the  service  of  the  united 
States.^" 

Ordered,  To  lie  on  the  table. 

March  15,  1777.  180 

Resolved,  That  as  Congress  proceeded  to  the  dis- 
mission of  Doctor  Stringer,  upon  reasons  satisfac- 
tory to  themselves,  General  Schuyler  ought  to  have 
known  it  to  be  his  duty  to  have  acquiesced  therein: 

Resolved,  That  the  suggestion  in  General  Schuy- 
ler's letter  to  Congress,  that  it  was  a  compliment 
due  to  him  to  have  been  advised  of  the  reasons  of 
Doctor  Stringer's  dismission,  is  highly  derogatory  to 
the  honour  of  Congress;  and  that  the  president  be 
desired  to  acquaint  General  Schuyler  that  it  is  ex- 
pected his  letters,  for  the  future,  be  written  in  a 
stile  more  suitable  to  the  dignity  of  the  representa- 
tive body  of  these  free  and  independent  states,  and 
to  his  own  character  as  their  officer. 

March  19,  1777.  186 

Resolved,  That  the  extract  of  Mr.  Deane's  letter, 
relative  to  Dr.  Williamson,  be  referred  to  a  com- 
mittee of  five,  who  are  empowered  to  send  for  Dr. 
Williamson  and  examine  him: 

The  members  chosen.  Dr.  (John)  Witherspoon, 
Mr.  (Jonathan  Bayard?)  Smith,  Mr.  (George)  Cly- 
mer,  Mr.  (James)  Wilson,  and  Mr.  (Thomas)  Hey- 
ward. 

March  22,  1777.  193 

The  report  of  the  Medical  Committee  was  taken 
up  and  considered;  (and,  after  debate,)  Whereupon, 

^^  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Benjamin  Rush,  is  in  the  Papers 
of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  22,  folio  1.  Against  paragraphs 
1,  2,  and  4  is  written  "Query  if  necessary." 

63 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

Resolved,  That  said  report,  together  with  Dr. 
Shippen's  plan,  be  recommitted. 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  five  be  appointed 
to  devise  ways  and  means  for  preserving  the  health 
of  the  troops,  and  for  introducing  better  discipline 
into  the  army: 

The  members  chosen,  Mr.  (Ohver)  Wolcott,  Mr. 
(Daniel)  Roberdeau,  Dr.  (John)  Witherspoon,  Mr. 
S(amuel)  Adams,  and  Mr.  (Abraham)  Clark. 

March  24,  1777.  197-200 

The  Medical  Committee,  to  whom  the  plan  of  the 
general  hospital  was  recommitted,  brought  in  a  re- 
port, which  was  read: 

The  Medical  Committee,  having  taken  into  their 
consideration  the  establishment  of  the  medical  de- 
partment in  the  Army,  Report  as  follows: 

i^'.  That  to  each  regiment  there  be  appointed 
one  Surgeon  and  one  Surgeon's  Mate,  who  shall 
constantly  attend  the  Regiment,  to  afford  present 
relief  to  the  sick  and  wounded,  and  take  care  of 
such  as  it  may  be  proper  to  remove  to  the  hospital. 

2^^*^,  That  Senior  Surgeons  of  approved  Abilities 
in  Physick  and  Surgery  be  appointed  to  each  Brig- 
ade or  a  greater  number  of  Regiments  as  the  Gen- 
eral commanding  in  each  department  or  grand  divi- 
sion of  the  Army  shall  judge  necessary;  whose  busi- 
ness shall  be,  to  Superintend  the  Regimental  Sur- 
geons and  Mates,  see  that  they  do  their  duty,  ad- 
vise and  direct  them  in  all  difficult  cases,  and  direct 
or  perform  all  Capital  Operations,  give  Assistance 
to  the  director  of  the  hospital  when  such  assistance 
is  necessary;  direct  the  Commissary  of  the  Sick  in 
the  Articles  Necessary  to  be  procured  for  the  Sick 
and  wounded  out  of  the  hospital,  and  see  that  the 
Commissary,  purveyor  and  Nurses  Regularly  per- 

64 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

lorm  their  respective  duties,  and  provide  proper 
Nurses  to  attend  the  sick  wlien  Necessary;  and  also 
from  Time  to  Time  furnish  the  Regimental  Surgeons 
with  such  Medicines  and  instruments  as  they  may 
have  Occasion  for  out  of  those  furnished  them  by 
the  Apothecaries,  taking  receipts  for  the  same,  and 
render  Accounts  of  all  medicines  and  instruments 
by  them  received  or  delivered  out  when  required 
thereto  by  Congress. 

S'"'*,  That  a  Commissary  for  the  Sick  be  appoint- 
ed to  attend  each  grand  division  of  the  Army,  who 
shall  appoint  one  or  more  assistants  if  necessary, 
whose  business  it  shall  be  to  purchase  and  deliver 
to  the  purveyor  all  such  Provisions,  Liquors,  and 
other  necessaries  for  the  Sick  and  wounded  as  di- 
rected by  the  Senior  Surgeons,  and  keep  accounts  of 
and  take  receipts  for  the  same:  he  shall  provide 
Straw,  hay  and  fuel  for  the  hospitals,  and  have  the 
care  of  burying  the  Dead:  he  shall  furnish  the  hos- 
pital with  such  a  number  of  shirts,  sheets,  blankets, 
and  cases  for  straw  for  the  Accommodation  of  the 
Sick  as  the  General  commanding  in  such  grand  divi- 
sion of  the  Army  shall  direct:  he  shall  likewise  pro- 
vide or  obtain  from  the  Quarter  master  general  a 
proper  number  of  hospital  tents  for  the  Sick  in  case 
the  Army  is  likely  to  be  stationed  in  places  where 
houses  convenient  cannot  be  obtained  for  that  pur- 
pose: and  also  provide  and  Superintend  the  Wag- 
gons necessary  to  be  employed  in  removing  the  Sick 
and  wounded,  the  number  of  hospital  tents  and 
Waggons  necessary  for  the  above  purposes  to  be 
fixed  and  ascertained  by  the  Generals  commanding 
each  division,  and  certified  under  their  hands  re- 
spectively: of  all  which  Articles  above  enumerated, 
when  provided,  the  Commissary  shall  take  proper 
receipts  and  vouchers  proving  that  the  same  were 

^5 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

furnished,  which  he  shall  lay  before  Congress  when 
required. 

4*^  That  one  Purveyor  be  appointed  to  attend 
each  grand  division  of  the  Army,  with  one  or  more 
Assistants  if  necessary:  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  re- 
ceive from  the  Commissary,  take  care  of  and  dis- 
tribute the  provisions  and  other  necessaries  provid- 
ed for  the  sick  and  wounded  in  such  manner  as  the 
Senior  Surgeons  shall  direct:  which  provisions  and 
necessaries  are  to  be  delivered  in  lieu  of  well  rations. 

5*^*,  That  the  General  commanding  in  each  De- 
partment or  grand  division  of  the  Army,  direct  one 
hospital  to  be  provided  in  some  Convenient  place 
contiguous  to  the  Army  consisting  of  different  or 
separate  houses,  if  such  can  be  had,  in  order  that 
the  wounded  may  be  kept  apart  from  the  sick,  and 
also  that:  he  sick  may  be  properly  divided,  as  may 
be  most  conducive  to  their  recovery:  to  which  hos- 
pital all  such  sick  and  wounded  are  to  be  sent  as 
the  Senior  Surgeons  may  think  proper,  and  whose 
circumstances  will  admit  being  removed,  which  hos- 
pital shall  be  supplied  by  the  Commissary  for  the 
sick,  with  such  provisions  and  other  necessaries  for 
the  use  of  the  sick  and  wounded,  as  the  director 
shall  require  in  lieu  of  well  rations. 

6*^  That  one  director  of  approved  skill  in  Phy- 
sick  and  Surgery  be  appointed  for  each  hospital, 
who  shall  have  the  liberty  of  appointing  one  assist- 
ant Surgeon  and  four  mates;  a  purveyor  and  such  a 
number  of  Washerwomen  and  Nurses  as  he  shall 
judge  necessary  for  the  comfortable  accommodation 
and  attendance  of  the  sick  and  wounded  under  his 
care,  always  observing  that  no  more  than  necessary 
are  employed.  Also  that  the  director  May  call  to  his 
assistance  one  or  more  of  the  Senior  Surgeons  when 
the  number  of  sick  and  wounded  in  the  hospital  re- 

66 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

quires  such  assistance.  Also  that  the  director  take 
an  Account  of  each  of  the  sick  and  wounded  under 
his  care,  with  the  Time  of  their  coming  to  the  hos- 
pital, and  when  discharged,  or  deceased:  and  also  of 
the  Number  of  attendants  employed  in  Nursing  and 
taking  care  of  the  sick:  and  make  due  returns  there- 
of every  month  to  the  general  commanding  in  each 
grand  division  of  the  Army  to  be  by  him  transmit- 
ted to  Congress. 

7*^  That  there  be  two  Apothecaries,  one  in  the 
middle,  and  one  in  the  eastern  department,  whose 
business  it  shall  be  to  receive  all  such  Medicines  and 
instruments  as  shall  be  procured  by  the  Secret  Com- 
mittee, and  to  purchase  such  others  as  they  shall  di- 
rect. That  the  Apothecaries  prepare  and  put  up  such 
medicines  and  instruments  for  each  hospital,  and  for 
each  Regimental  Surgeon,  and  also  for  each  Senior 
Surgeon  to  be  used  by  them  or  dealt  out  to  the 
Regimental  Surgeons  when  needed,  as  the  medical 
committee  shall  direct,  and  forward  the  same  with 
Supplies  from  Time  to  Time  agreeable  to  their  or- 
ders, keeping  exact  accounts  and  taking  proper  re- 
ceipts for  the  same  to  be  laid  before  Congress  when 
required.  Each  Apothecary  to  be  allowed  one  mate. 

8*^  That  the  sick  and  wounded  as  well  in  the 
Army  as  in  the  hospital  be  kept  separate  from  each 
other,  when  circumstances  will  admit  thereof;  and 
that  the  sick  be  always  placed  at  such  a  distance 
from  those  in  health  as  to  prevent  the  spread  of  in- 
fection in  the  Army. 

9*^  That  the  pay  of  the  medical  department  be 
as  follows — 

The  director  of  the  hospital  dollars  per  month 
and         rations  per  day. 

The  Senior  Surgeons  and  assistants  to  the  direc- 

(>7 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

tors  dollars  per  month  and  rations  per  day 

each. 

The  Apothecaries         dollars  per  month  and 
rations  per  day  each. 

The  Regimental  Surgeons  dollars  per  month 

and        rations  per  day  each. 

The  directors  Apothecaries  and  Surgeons  mates 
dollars  per  month  and        rations  per  day  each. 

The  Commissary  of  the  sick  dollars  per  month 
and         rations  per  day  each. 

The  Purveyors  dollars  per  month  and  ra- 
tions per  day  each. 

The  Assistant  Commissaries  and  Assistant  Pur- 
veyors dollars  per  month  and  rations  per  day 
each.^^ 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  for  consideration  to 
morrow  morning. 

March  27,  1777.  206 

Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  report 
of  the  Medical  Committee  on  the  hospital; 

Resolved,  That  it  be  [referred  to  a  Committee  of 
the  Whole.  Congress  then  resolved  itself  into  a 
Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  consideration 
the  report  of  the  Medical  Committee,  and  after 
some  time,  the  President  resumed  the  chair,  and 
Mr.  (Daniel)  Roberdeen  reported]  re-committed. 

April  2,  1777.  219 

Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  report 
of  the  (medical)  committee  on  the  hospital,  and, 
after  debate. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  report  lie  on  the  table  (for 
farther  consideration). 

'1  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Abraham  Clark,  is  in  the  Pa- 
pers of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  22,  folio  15. 

68 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed 
to  revise  Dr.  Shippcn's  plan  for  the  regulating  the 
hospital,  and  report  thereon. 

The  members  chosen,  Mr.  (Elbridge)  Gerry,  Mr. 
(Thomas)  Burke  and  Mr.  J(ohn)  Adams. 

April  4,  1777.  225 

The  Committee  on  the  hospital,  brought  in  a  re- 
port, which  was  taken  into  consideration,  and  after 
debate. 

Resolved,  That  the  farther  consideration  thereof 
be  postponed  till  to  morrow. 

April  5,  1777.  227 

Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  report 
on  hospitals,  and,  after  debate. 

Resolved,  That  the  farther  consideration  be  post- 
poned till  Monday  next. 

April  7,  1777.  231-7 

Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  report 
on  the  hospital;  Whereupon, 

Resolved,  That  there  be  one  director  general  of  all 
the  like  weekly  returns  to  their  respective  directors, 
mutatis  mutandis: 

That  the  deputy  directors  general  cause  the  like 
returns  to  be  made,  once  every  month,  to  the  di- 
rector general,  together  with  the  names  and  de- 
nominations of  all  the  officers  in  the  respective  hos- 
pitals: 

And  that  the  director  general  shall  make  a  like 
return  for  all  the  hospitals  and  armies  of  the  United 
States,  once  every  month,  to  the  Medical  Commit- 
tee: 

That  the  Medical  Committee  have  power  to  ap- 
point any  of  their  members  to  visit  and  inspect  all 
or  any  of  the  medical  departments,  as  often  as  they 

69 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

shall  think  proper,  to  enquire  into  the  conduct  o- 
such  general  officers  of  the  hospital  as  shall  be  delin- 
quent in  this  or  any  parts  of  their  duty,  and  to  ref 
port  their  names  to  Congress,  with  the  evidence  of 
the  charges,  which  shall  be  brought  against  them.^^ 

Resolved,  That  the  farther  consideration  of  the  re- 
port be  postponed  till  to  morrow. 

April  8,  1777.  243,  244-6 

That  the  eldest  son  of  General  Warren,  and  the 
youngest  son  of  General  Mercer,  be  educated,  from 
this  time  at  the  expence  of  the  United  States,^^ 

Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  report 
on  the  hospital;  Whereupon, 

Resolved,  That  in  time  of  action  and  on  any  other 
emergency,  when  the  regimental  surgeons  are  not 
sufficient  in  number  to  attend  properly  to  the  sick 
and  wounded,  that  cannot  be  removed  to  the  hos- 
pitals, the  director,  or  deputy  director  general  of 
the  district,  be  empowered  and  required,  upon  the 
request  of  the  physician  and  surgeon  general  of  the 
army,  to  send,  from  the  hospitals  under  his  care,  to 
the  assistance  of  such  sick  and  wounded,  as  many 
physicians  and  surgeons  as  can  possibly  be  spared 
from  the  necessary  business  of  the  hospitals. 

That  the  director,  deputy  directors  general,  as- 
sistant deputy  directors,  physicians  and  surgeons 
general,  be  and  they  are  hereby  required  and  di- 
rected to  employ  such  parts  of  their  time,  as  may 
conveniently  be  spared  from  the  duties  before  point- 

"^  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Thomas  Burke,  is  in  the  Papers 
of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  22,  foho  19. 

^'  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Benjamin  Rush,  is  in  the  Pa- 
pers of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  19,  V,  foho  151. 

70 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

ed  out  to  them,  in  visiting  and  prescribing  for  the 
sick  and  wounded  of  the  hospitals  under  their  care.^^ 
That  the  establishment  of  the  medical  department 
be  as  follows: 
I  director  general 6  dollars  a  day  and  9  rations. 

3  deputy  directors  gen- 
eral  5      do.  6     do. 

Indeterminate  assist- 
ant deputy  director.  3      do.  6     do. 

4  physicians  general 
and  4  surgeons  gen- 
eral each 5      do.  6     do. 

I  to  each  army,  physi-  ^ 

cian     and     surgeon 

general  of  the  army .  5      do.  6  do. 

Senior  surgeons 4      do.  6  do. 

Second  surgeons 2      do.  4  do. 

Surgeons'  mates 1 3^  do.  2  do. 

Apothecaries  general.  .3      do.  6  do. 

Mates 1 3^  do.  2  do. 

Commissary 2      do.  4  do. 

Clerk,    who    is    to    be 

paymaster 2      do.  4  do. 

Assistant  clerks 2/3  do.  i  do. 

Stewards i      do.  2  do. 

Matron 3^    do.  i  do. 

Nurses 24-90  i  do. 

Stabler i      do.  i  do. 

Regimental  surgeons.  .2      do.  4  do. 

Do.        mates. ...  i  1/3  2  do. 

Ordered,  That  the  regulations  respecting  hospitals 
be  published. 

April  9,  1777.  247 

'^  These  two  paragraphs,  in  the  writing  of  James  Wilson,  are 
in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  22,  folio  26  1/2. 

71 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

Resolved,  That  to-morrow  be  assigned  for  nomi- 
nating gentlemen  for  the  offices  of  director  and  dep- 
uty directors  general,  physicians  general  and  sur- 
geons general  of  the  military  hospital,  and  the  physi- 
cians and  surgeons  general  of  the  respective  armies, 
and  that  the  election  be  on  the  day  following. 

April  II,  1777.  253-5 

Congress  then  proceeded  to  the  election  of  the 
officers  in  the  hospital  department;  and  the  ballots 
being  taken, 

Dr.  Wilham  Shippen,  Jun'  was  chosen,  by  the 
unanimous  vote  of  the  thirteen  states,  director  gen- 
eral of  all  the  mihtary  hospitals  for  the  armies  of  the 
United  States. 

Dr.  Walter  Jones,  was  elected  physician  general  of 
the  hospital  in  the  middle  department. 

Dr.  Benjamin  Rush,  was  elected  surgeon  general 
of  the  hospital  in  the  middle  department. 

Dr.  John  Cochran,  was  elected  physician  and  sur- 
geon general  of  the  army  in  the  middle  department. 

Dr.  Isaac  Forster,  deputy  director  general  of  the 
hospital  in  the  eastern  department. 

Dr.  Ammi  Ruhamah  Cutter,  physician  general  of 
the  hospital  in  the  eastern  department. 

Dr.  Phihp  Turner,  surgeon  general  of  ditto. 

Dr.  William  Burnet,  physician  and  surgeon  (gen- 
eral) of  the  army  (in  the  eastern  department). 

Dr.  Jonathan  Potts,  was  elected  deputy  director 
general  of  the  hospital  in  the  northern  department. 

Dr.  Malachi  Treat,  physician  general  of  ditto. 

Dr.  Forgue,  surgeon  general  of  ditto. 

Dr.  John  Bartlett,  physician  and  surgeon  general 
of  ditto. 

The  Board  of  Treasury  reported. 

That  there  is  due  to  Dr.  J.  Ramsey,  and  to  be  paid 

72 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

to  the  honorable  Jonathan  Elmer,  Esq^  for  sundry 
medicine  supplied  the  New  Jersey  troops,  the  sum 
of  £9  3  6  equal  to  24  42/90  dollars; 

That  there  is  due  to  Dr.  James  Tilton,  for  sundry 
medicine  supplied  the  batallion  of  the  state  of  Dela- 
ware, the  sum  of  £10,  equal  to  26  60/90  dollars; 

That  there  is  due  to  Dr.  William  Currie,  for  sun- 
dry medicine  supplied  the  5,  or  Colonel  Johnston's 
Pennsylvania  batallion,  the  sum  of  £50  17  2  equal 
to  135  56/90  dollars. 

April  12,  1777.  257 

Resolved,  That  100,000  dollars  be  advanced  to  Dr. 
Shippen,  director  general,  for  the  use  of  the  hospi- 
tals; he  to  be  accountable. 

Resolved,  That  the  surgeons  general  and  physi- 
cians general  of  the  hospitals,  shall,  each  of  them 
regulate  the  practice  of  both  physic  and  surgery,  and 
do  the  duty  of  physician  and  surgeon  general  in  the 
hospitals  respectively  committed  to  their  charge,  and 
that  the  director  and  deputy  directors  general  take 
proper  care  to  keep  the  sick  and  wounded  in  separate 
departments. 

April  17,  1777.  274-5 

That  there  is  due  to  Dr.  William  Smith,  conti- 
nental druggist,  for  sundry  medicine  purchased  by 
him  for  public  use,  the  sum  of  2,820  30/90  dollars, 
and  for  sundry  medicine  supplied  by  him  for  the  use 
of  the  brig  Lexington,  the  sum  of  131  38/90  dollars, 
both  sums  making  2,952  28/90  dollars; 

That  there  is  due  to  Dr.  William  Currie  for  sun- 
dry medicine  supplied  the  sick  of  the  4th  and  6th 
Virginia  regiments,  the  sum  of  99  66/90  dollars. 

April  22,  1777.  288-90 

Resolved,  That  a  Corps  of  Invalids  be  formed  con- 
sisting of  eight  Companies,  each  Company  to  have 

73 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

one  Captain,  two  Lieutenants,  two  Ensigns,  five  Ser- 
jeants, six  Corporals,  two  Drummers,  two  fifers  and 
one  hundred  Men.  This  Corps  to  be  employed,  in 
Garrisons  and  for  Guards,  in  Cities  and  other  Places, 
where  Magazines  or  Arsenals  are  placed;  aS  also  to 
serve  as  a  Military  School  for  Young  Gentlemen, 
previous  to  their  being  appointed  to  marching  Regi- 
ments, for  which  purpose,  all  the  Subaltern  Officers, 
when  off  Duty,  shall  be  obliged  to  attend  a  Mathe- 
matical School,  appointed  for  the  purpose  to  learn 
Geometry,  Arithmetick,  vulgar  and  decimal  Frac- 
tions and  the  extraction  of  Roots.  And  that  the 
Officers  of  this  Corps,  shall  be  obliged  to  contribute 
one  day's  pay  in  every  Month,  and  Stoppages  shall 
be  made  of  it  accordingly,  for  the  purpose  of  pur- 
chasing a  Regimental  Library  of  the  most  approved 
Authors  on  Tacticks  and  the  Petite  Guere. 

That  some  Officers  from  this  Corps  be  constantly 
employed  in  the  Recruiting  Service,  in  the  Neigh- 
bourhood of  the  places  they  shall  be  stationed  in, 
that  all  Recruits  so  made,  shall  be  brought  into  the 
Corps,  and  drilled  and  afterwards  draughted  into 
other  Regiments  as  occasion  shall  require.^^ 

Inform  General  Washington  that  Surgeons'  Mates 
are  appointed  and  their  Pay  fixed.  Pay  and  Rations 
of  Regimental  Surgeons  and  Mates  same  as  second 
surgeons  in  the  Hospital. ^^ 

Resolved,  That  the  farther  consideration  of  the 
report  be  postponed. 

Resolved,  That  the  director  and  deputy  directors 
general,  shall  constantly  publish  in  the  news-papers, 
the  names  of  the  places  in  which  their  military  hos- 
pitals are  respectively  kept;  and  the  several  com- 

3^  See  under  June  20,  1777,  post. 

^°  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
147,  I,  folio  147. 

74 


James  Tilton 

(1745-1822) 


DURING  THE  REVOTNT  ENARR  TER  EDZ 

manding  officers  of  parties,  detachments,  or  corps, 
on  their  march  to  or  from  the  camp,  shall  send  to 
the  said  hospitals,  such  of  their  oflicers  and  soldiers, 
as,  from  time  to  time,  are  unable  to  proceed,  together 
with  certificates  to  the  director  or  deputy  director 
general,  mentioning  the  names  of  the  said  officers 
and  soldiers  and  particular  regiments  to  which  they 
belong;  unless,  from  the  distance  of  the  hospitals, 
or  other  causes,  it  shall  at  any  time  be  necessary  to 
deliver  them  to  the  care  of  private  physicians  or 
surgeons,  in  which  cases,  such  physicians  and  sur- 
geons, and  also  the  respective  commanding  officers, 
are  forthwith  to  report  their  names  and  regiments 
to  the  director  or  deputy  directors  general  as  afore- 
said, who  shall  give  the  necessary  orders  for  removing 
them  to  the  hospitals  as  soon  as  may  be,  and  dis- 
charge the  reasonable  demands  of  the  physicians  and 
surgeons  conducting  agreeable  to  this  resolve. 

That  the  director,  deputy  directors  general  and 
assistant  deputy  directors,  have  power  to  order  to 
their  respective  hospitals,  the  sick  and  wounded  of 
the  army,  wherever  found,  in  their  own  or  other 
departments,  provided  such  other  departments  are 
not  supplied  with  any  of  the  officers  aforesaid. 

April  23,  1777.  292 

Resolved,  That  Dr.  James  Tilton  be  authorized  to 
repair  to  Dumfries,  in  Virginia,  there  to  take  the 
charge  of  all  continental  soldiers  that  are  or  shall 
be  inoculated,  and  that  he  be  furnished  with  all 
necessary  medicines:  that  the  commanding  officers 
in  that  department  be  directed  to  afford  every  as- 
sistance in  their  power,  and  that  all  commissaries 
and  quarter  masters  on  whom  the  doctor  shall  have 
occasion  to  call,  be  directed  to  provide  quarters  and 
everything  requisite  for  this  business. 

75 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

April  25,  1777.  300 

Resolved,  That  the  physician  or  surgeon  general 
of  the  hospital  in  the  middle  department,  be  directed 
to  send  a  proper  person  or  persons  in  the  medical 
department,  to  visit  all  the  hospitals  betwixt  this  city 
and  the  town  of  Annapolis,  in  Maryland,  with  direc- 
tions to  order  all  such  soldiers,  as  shall  be  deemed 
capable  of  service,  to  join  immediately  their  respec- 
tive corps  under  proper  officers. 

April  30,  1777.  317 

Resolved,  That  Major  General  Schuyler  be  di- 
rected to  send  a  proper  officer,  to  hasten  the  march 
of  the  Carolina  continental  troops,  supposed  to  be 
now  on  their  way  to  head-quarters;  that  they  halt 
at  Dumfries,  Colchester  and  Alexandria,  in  Virginia, 
there  to  pass  through  inoculation;  which  the  hospi- 
tal surgeons,  lately  despatched  from  this  city  to  Dum- 
fries, are  directed  to  see  effected,  with  the  greatest 
despatch. 

May  2,  1777.  321-2 

That  there  is  due  to  Christopher,  jun.  and  Charles 
Marshall,  for  sundry  medicine  and  chirurgical  in- 
struments supplied  by  them  for  the  use  of  different 
batallions  of  continental  forces,  the  sum  of  £1,556 
16  6,  equal  to  4,151  48/90  dollars: 

That  there  is  due  to  Dr.  George  Glentworth,  for 
sundry  medicine  supplied  the  sick  of  Captain  Doyle's 
company  in  continental  service,  the  sum  of  28  48/90 
dollars : 

That  there  is  due  to  Dr.  Frederick  Phile,  for  sun- 
dry medicine  administered  by  him  to  several  batal- 
lions of  continental  forces,  the  sum  of  £492  2  9, 
equal  to  1,312  33/90  dollars." 

Ordered,  That  the  said  accounts  be  paid. 

^'  This  report,  dated  April  29,  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continen- 
tal Congress,  No.  136,  I,  folio  141. 

76 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

May  8,  i777-  335  _ 

A  letter,  from  Governor  Livingston,  to  Dr.  Wither- 
spoon,  dated  Haddonfield,  May  7,  was  laid  before 
Congress  and  read,  wherein  he  requests  a  guard  of 
2^  or  30  continental  troops,  for  purposes  therein 
mentioned;  Whereupon,^^ 

May  20,  1777.  371 

A  letter  ...  of  the  19th,  from  Dr.  W. 
Shippen,  director  general;     .     .     .^^ 

May  27,  1777.  389-90 

Resolved,  ...  by  the  resolutions  of  Congress 
of  the  26th  day  of  August,  1776,  to  make  provision 
for  the  maintenance  of  disabled  wounded  soldiers, 
belonging  to  their  respective  States,  and  to  keep  a 
regular  account  of  the  expence  attending  the  same, 
that,  at  a  future  day,  the  Continent  may  be  charged 
therewith : 

May  28,  1777-  394 

A  letter,  of  the  27th,  from  Dr.  B.  Rush,  was  read: 
Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Medical  Com- 
mittee. 

June  20,  1777.  482 

Resolved,  That  a  corps  of  invalids  be  formed. 
.  .  .  This  corps  to  be  employed  .  .  .,  and 
for  guards  in  cities  and  other  places  where  .  .  ., 
or  hospitals  are  placed;     .     .     . 

June  23,  1777.  490 

A  .  .  .  letter  of  the  20th,  from  Dr.  W.  Ship- 
pen,  informing  that  Dr.  Walter  Jones,  for  weighty 
reasons,  cannot  accept  the  honour  Congress  did  him 

'8  This  letter  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No 
68,  foUo  255. 

'*  The  letter  of  Shippen  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, No.  78,  XX,  folio  403. 

77 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

in  appointing  him  physician  general  of  the  hospitals 
of  the  middle  department;  and  that  he  gives  this 
information    at   the    desire    of   Doctor    W.    Jones; 

40 

•  •  • 

July  I,  1777.  517,  518 

Resolved,  That  there  be  advanced  to  Dr.  W. 
Shippen,  director  general  of  the  military  hospitals, 
25,000  dollars,  for  which  he  is  to  be  accountable.^^ 

Congress  proceeded  to  the  election  of  a  physician 
general  of  the  hospital  in  the  middle  department,  in 
the  room  of  Dr.  Jones,  who  declines,  and,  the  ballots 
being  taken, 

Benjamin  Rush  was  elected. 

July  2,  1777.  525 

Congress  proceeded  to  the  election  of  a  surgeon 
general  of  the  hospital  in  the  middle  department,  in 
the  room  of  Dr.  Rush;  and,  the  ballots  being  taken, 

Dr.  William  Brown  was  elected. 

July  3,  1777.  527 

A  letter  ...  of  the  22  June,  from  Jonathan 
Potts,  at  Ticonderoga;     .     .     . 

Ordered,  .  .  .  that  the  letter  from  Dr.  Potts, 
be  referred  to  the  Medical  Committee. 

July  5,  1777.  532. 

The  said  Board  farther  reported  that  a  warrant 
should  be  drawn  by  the  president  on  Benjamin  Har- 
rison, Jun^  Esq^,  deputy  pay  master  general  of 
the  southern  department,  in  favour  of  Colonel  Will- 
iam Aylett,  deputy  commissary  general  in  the  said 

*"  The  letter  of  Shippen  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, No.  78,  XX,  folio  115. 

*^  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
136,  I,  folio  271. 

78 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY   PERIOD 

department,  for  54,000  dollars,  for  which  the  said 
Commissary  General  is  to  be  accountable/^ 

July  7,  1777.  538 

That  there  is  due  to  Messrs.  Caldwell  &  Co.  for 
sundry  medicine  delivered  William  Smith,  conti- 
nental druggist,  for  the  use  of  the  United  States, 
the  sum  of  666  60/90  dollars: 

(Ordered,  That  the  said  account  be  paid.) 

July  12,  1777.  547 

That  there  be  advanced  to  Dr.  William  Shippen, 
director  general  of  the  hospitals,  8,000  dollars,  for 
which  he  is  to  be  accountable: 

July  16,  1777.  554-6 

Resolved,  That  the  pay  and  subsistence  of  sur- 
geons in  the  navy,  be  equal  to  the  pay  and  subsis- 
tence of  the  lieutenants  of  the  vessels  to  which  the 
shall  respectively  belong. 

Resolved,  That,  for  carrying  into  execution  the  re- 
solve especting  Colonel  Nicola's  corps  of  invalids, 
the  following  plan,  for  raising  one  company,  be 
adopted  for  raising  the  whole  of  the  said  corps: 

I.  That  the  director  general  of  the  continental 
hospital  be  desired  to  give  directions  to  the  Phy- 
sician and  surgeons,  in  the  different  departments- 
at  a  rseasonable  distance  from  Philadelphia,  that,  be 
fore  they  discharge  any  Serjeants,  corporals,  or  pri- 
vate men  from  the  hospitals  as  unfit  for  service, 
they  consider,  whether  such  men  are  actually,  or 

^  Thi3  paragraph  formed  part  of  a  report,  dated  July  2,  which 
contained  two  other  paragraphs,  both  of  which  were  ordered,"  to 
lie."  These  paragraphs  were:  "Resolved,  That  all  Bedding,  Blan- 
kets, Shirts  and  Sheets  which  may  be  necessary  for  the  use  of  the 
Hospitals  be  purchased  and  supplied  by  the  Clothier  Gen- 
eral.    ..." 

The  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
136,  I,  folio  283. 

79 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

likely  soon  to  be  capable  of  doing  garrison  duty; 
and,  if  thought  so,  to  mention  it  in  the  discharge, 
that  they  may  not  be  entirely  discharged  from  the 
service,  but  transferred  from  the  regiment  to  which 
they  actually  belong,  to  that  of  invalids;  and  that 
in  case  such  men  are  at  a  distance  from  their  re- 
spective regiments,  that  the  director  or  steward  of 
each  hospital  send  such  men  to  Philadelphia,  in  the 
best  manner  circumstances  will  admit: 

2.  That  notice  be  sent,  by  the  Board  of  War,  to 
the  generals  commanding  the  armies,  of  the  raising 
a  corps  of  invalids,  and  that  they  be  desired  to  give 
orders  to  the  officers  commanding  regiments,  that, 
in  case  they  have  any  Serjeants,  corporals,  drum- 
mers, or  private  men,  deemed  incapable  of  doing 
field  duty,  such  men  should  be  examined  by  the  di- 
rector of  the  hospital  or  some  other  physician  or 
surgeon,  and,  if  judged  fit  for  garrison  duty,  that 
they  be  not  discharged,  but  transferred  to  the  in- 
valid corps,  and  sent  to  Philadelphia  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible. 

Men  having  only  one  leg  or  arm  each,  if  otherwise 
capable  of  doing  garrison  duty,  are  to  be  deemed 
proper  recruits  for  this  corps. 

3.  That  the  following  advertisement  be  published 
in  the  several  newspapers  as  soon  as  possible,  viz. 

"War-Office,  June,  1777:  The  Congress,  being  de- 
sirous to  make  provision  for  such  men  as  suffer  in 
the  military  service  of  the  United  States,  have  di- 
rected a  regiment  of  invalids  to  be  immediately 
raised  for  the  reception  of  such  as  have  already 
been,  or  may,  in  future,  be  rendered,  by  wounds  or 
disorders,  incapable  of  doing  field  duty,  but  are  yet 
fit  for  garrison  service.  Notice  is  hereby  given,  that 
all  persons  in  Philadelphia,  or  within  twenty  miles 
round,  who  are  under  continental  half-pay,  on  ac- 

80 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

count  of  incapacities  contracted  in  the  service,  must, 
within  fifteen  days,  repair  to  Philadelphia  and  show 
themselves  to  Colonel  Nicola,  in  Front  Street,  four 
doors  below  the  Coffee  house,  that,  if  judged  capable 
of  duty,  they  may  be  put  on  full  pay.  All  other  per- 
sons, who  have  served  in  the  armies  of  the  United 
States,  within  the  above  description,  though  not  on 
half-pay,  may  present  themselves,  and,  if  judged 
capable,  they  will  be  immediately  received.  All 
such  as  are  above  twenty  miles  from  Philadelphia 
must  apply  to  the  nearest  continental  general,  field 
officer,  physician  or  surgeon,  who  are  desired  to  for- 
ward such  as  they  judge  fit  for  the  corps  of  invalids. 
Officers  who,  from  wounds  or  disorders  contracted 
in  the  service,  are  rendered  unfit  for  field  duty, 
must  signify  their  pretensions,  with  certificates  from 
continental  physicians  or  surgeons  to  the  Board  of 
War.  As  this  corps  is  intended,  not  only  as  a  pro- 
vision for  disabled  officers  and  soldiers,  but  as  a 
school  for  propagating  military  knowledge  and  dis- 
cipline, no  officers  need  apply  but  such  as  produce 
ample  certificates  of  their  having  served  with  repu- 
tation, and  having  supported  good  characters,  both 
as  citizens  and  soldiers.  Officers  and  soldiers  who 
have  engaged  during  the  war  will  be  preferred." 

Resolved,  That  Enoch  Welsh  be  appointed  an  en- 
sign in  the  corps  of  invalids.*^ 

July  17,  1777.  560 

Resolved,  That  in  lieu  of  the  advance  ordered  on 
the  12  instant  to  be  made  to  Dr.  William  Shippen, 
director  general  of  the  hospitals,  an  order  be  drawn 
on  the  loan  officer  of  Connecticut,  in  his  favour,  for 

^  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
147.  I,  foUo  237. 

81 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

8,000  dollars,  for  which  the  said  Dr.  Shippen  is  to 
be  accountable.'** 

July  22,  1777.  570 

A  letter,  of  the  5,  from  Dr.  W.  Rickman  to  Mr. 
(Benjamin)*  Harrison,  was  laid  before  Congress  and 
read:**'' 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Medical  Com- 
mittee. 

July  31,  1777.  593 

A  .  .  .  letter  and  memorial  from  Dr.  J.  Mor- 
gan, were  read:  ***• 

Ordered,  .  .  .  that  the  memorial  of  Dr.  Morgan 
be  referred  to  the  Medical  Committee. 

August  5,  1777.  608,  609 

.  .  .  That  there  are  sick  in  the  Hospitals  and 
Army  3,745  soldiers,  the  number  of  which  has  been 
greatly  increased  by  the  use  of  bad  Bread,  and  the 
Want  of  Vinegar,  Vegetables  and  Soap  as  particu- 
larly set  forth  in  General  Washington's  Letter  to  the 
Committee  .... 

In  the  Hospital  Department  from  the  Want  of 
Authority  in  the  Director  and  Deputy  Directors 
General  to  draw  Supplies  from  the  Commissary's 
Stores. 

That  the  General  officers  as  well  as  the  Staff  com- 
plain of  their  not  receiving  regularly  the  resolutions 
of  Congress  relative  to  their  several  offices. 

That  the  Complaint  of  the  General  upon  the  be- 
stowing of  rank  on  the  inferior  officers  of  the  civil 

**  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
136,  I,  folio  305. 

^^^  This  letter  is  in  No.  78,  XIX,  folio  97. 

^^'^The  letter  of  Morgan,  in  No.  63,  folio  113;  and  the  me- 
morial in  No.  41,  VI,  folio  19. 

*  Material  placed  in  parenthesis  appeared  in  brackets  in  the 
original  MSS. 

82 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

Departments  of  the  Army,  corresponds  with  the 
Opinion  of  the  Officers  in  general,  and  there  is  too 
much  Reason  to  apprehend  great  inconveniences 
from  such  Measures  if  not  rectified  in  future.  .  .  . 
That  the  Director  and  each  of  the  Deputy  Direc- 
tors General  be  severally  authorized  to  empower  the 
Surgeon  and  Physician  General  of  the  Army  within 
his  respective  District,  to  draw  on  the  issuing  Com- 
missaries for  such  Articles  of  Provision  in  gross 
Quantities  as  the  said  Surgeon  and  Physician  Gen- 
eral Shall  require  for  supporting  the  Sick  in  the  fly- 
ing and  temporary  Hospitals;  and  the  said  issuing 
Commissaries  are  respectively  directed  to  charge 
such  Provisions  to  the  Director  or  Deputy  Director 
General  of  the  District,  and  to  keep  the  Vouchers  in 
separate  Files  in  order  for.  Settlement  with  the 
Officers  aforesaid.     ... 

August  6,  1777.  618 

Resolved,  That  there  be  advanced  to  Dr.  Wilham 
Shippen,  Jr.  director  general  of  the  hospitals,  the 
sum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  for  the  use  of  the  hos- 
pitals, for  which  he  is  to  be  accountable: 

August  8,  1777.  623 

A  petition  from  William  West,  major,  James 
M'Henry  and  Hugh  Hodge,  surgeons  of  the  4th  and 
6th  regiments  of  ||  Pennsylvania  forces,  ||  commanded 
by  Colonels  Magaw  and  Cadwallader,  prisoners  on 
parole,  praying  to  be  informed,  whether,  as  conti- 
nental officers  holding  commissions  only  revocable 
by  this  or  a  future  Congress,  they  are  not  entitled 
to  pay  while  on  parole,  as  well  as  when  in  the  hands 
of  General  Howe:  ^^ 

Ordered,  To  lie  for  consideration  to  Monday  next. 

*5  This  petition  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
42.  VIII,  folio  167. 

83 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

The  Medical  Committee,  to  whom  the  memorial 
from  Dr.  J.  Morgan  was  referred,  brought  in  a  re- 
port.^® 

August  9,  1777.  626-7 

Congress  took  into  consideration  the  report  of 
the  Medical  Committee  which  was  read,  as  follows: 

"The  Medical  Committee  to  whom  the  memorial 
of  Dr.  John  Morgan  to  Congress  was  referred,  beg 
leave  to  report,  that  they  find  from  the  journals  of 
Congress,  that  Dr.  Morgan  was  appointed  director 
general  and  chief  physician  of  the  hospital,  in  the 
room  of  Dr.  B.  Church,  October  17,  1775;  that,  on 
the  9  January,  1777,  he  was  dismissed  from  said  ap- 
pointment; that  though  no  cause  is  assigned  for  his 
discharge,  yet,  your  committee  on  enquiry,  find, 
that  the  general  complaints  of  persons  of  all  ranks 
in  the  army,  and  not  any  particular  charges  against 
him,  together  with  the  critical  state  of  affairs  at 
that  time,  rendered  it  necessary  for  the  public  good 
and  the  safety  of  the  United  States,  that  he  should 
be  displaced,  and  were  the  reaeons  of  his  dismission; 
that  the  doctor's  memorial  appears  to  your  commit- 
tee to  be  a  hasty  and  intemperate  production;  not- 
withstanding which,  as  he  conceives  himself  injured, 
and  requests  an  enquiry  into  his  conduct,  your  com- 
mittee are  of  opinion  that  he  ought  to  be  heard,  and 
that  a  committee  of  Congress  should  be  appointed 
for  that  purpose:" 

Resolved,  That  Congress  concur  in  the  said  report. 

The  Medical  Committee,  to  whom  was  referred 
the  letter  from  Dr.  William  Rickman,  also  report, 
"that  as  the  estabhshment  of  the  military  hospital 
n  Virginia,  by  a  resolution  of  Congress  of  the  i8th 

*•  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No* 
19,  IV,  folio  177.  It  is  summarized  on  August  9,  post. 

84 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

of  May,  1776,  is  entirely  distinct  from,  and  inde- 
pendent of,  the  general  establishment  of  hospitals 
in  the  other  States,  they  are  of  opinion,  the  same 
was  not  affected  by  the  new  regulations  of  the  7th 
day.  of  April  last,  and  that  Dr.  Rickman  still  con- 
tinues director  of  that  hospital;" 

Resolved,  That  Congress  concur  with  the  foregoing 
report.^^ 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  report  and 
concurrence  of  Congress  be  sent  to  Dr.  Shippen,  and 
that  he  be  directed  to  withdraw  from  Virginia  such 
physicians,  surgeons,  or  assistants,  as  he  may  have 
sent  thither. 

August  25,  1777.  670 

A  letter,  .  .  .  of  the  16,  from  Dr.  Shippen,  were 
read:  ^^ 

Ordered,  That  .  .  the  letter  from  Dr.  Shippen,  be 
referred  to  the  Medical  Committee. 

August  30,  1777.  699 

The  Medical  Committee  brought  in  a  report 
which  was  taken  into  consideration;  Whereupon, 

Resolved,  That  the  several  issuing  commissaries 
be  directed  to  furnish  the  director  general,  or  any  of 
the  deputy  directors,  or  their  assistants,  with  such 
provisions  as  any  of  them  shall,  from  time  to  time, 
demand  by  an  order  in  writing,  for  the  use  of  any 
temporary  hospital  which  shall  be  established,  which 
order,  with  the  receipt  of  the  steward  endorsed 
thereon,  shall  be  a  sufficient  voucher  for  such  issu- 
ing commissary,  who  is  also  required  to  keep  such 
vouchers  separate,  and  make  a  separate  entry  of  the 
same  in  his  books,  charging  the  director  who  ordered 
the  same  therewith. 

^'  See  note  under  August  8,  aiite. 

*^  The  letter  of  Shippen,  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  No.  78,  XX,  folio  147. 

85 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

September  lo,  1777.  727,  728-9 

A  letter,  .  .  of  the  9,  from  Dr.  Shippen,  director 
general  of  the  hospital,     .     .     . 

Ordered,  That  the  letter  from  Dr.  Shippen,  .  . 
be  referred  to  the  Board  of  Treasury.     .     .     . 

That  there  is  due  to  Dr.  John  Morgan,  late  direc- 
tor general  of  the  American  hospitals,  the  balance 
of  his  account  current  as  adjusted  by  the  commis- 
sioners of  accounts  at  Hartford,  the  12  July  last,  the 
sum  of  613  40/90  dollars,  and  the  farther  sum  of 
200  dollars  which  he  advanced  to  Dr.  Warren,  sur- 
geon of  the  general  hospital,  to  defray  expences,  &c. 
which  sum  was  stolen  from  the  said  Warren,  as  per 
certificates  taken  on  oath  before  the  commissioners 
at  Stamford,  and  which  the  Board  of  Treasury 
agrees  should  be  allowed  to  Dr.  Morgan; 

Also  the  pay  of  director  general  from  the  31  De- 
cember, 1776,  to  the  12  July,  1777,  being  194  days, 
at  6  dollars  per  day,  which  time  he  employed  in 
taking  accounts,  and  delivering  up  the  medicines, 
hospital  stores,  &c.  settling  accounts  with  the  sur- 
geons, mates,  &c.  attending  the  commissioners  at 
Hartford,  1,164  dollars;  for  1,179  rations  from  31 
December,  1776,  to  10  May,  at  8/90  dollar,  104 
72/90  dollars,  and  for  567  rations,  from  10  May  to 
12  July,  at  10/90,  63  dollars,  making  in  the  whole 
2,145  22/90  dollars: 

September  13,  1777.  739 

Ordered,  That  the  President  issue  his  warrant  on 
the  commissioners  of  the  loan  office  for  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania,  in  favour  of  Dr.  Shippen,  director 
general  of  the  hospital,  for  fifty  thousand  dollars, 
for  the  use  of  that  department;  and  for  which  he 
shall  be  accountable: 

September  18,  1777.  754 

Resolved,  That  estabhshments  be  made  for  the 

86 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

hospital  in  the  respective  departments,  and  chap- 
lains appointed,  and  that  their  pay  be  each  60  dol- 
lars a  month,  three  rations  a  day,  and  forage  for 
one  horse: 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Noah  Cook  was  elected  chaplain  of 
the  hospitals  in  the  eastern  department. 

October  18,  1777.  821 

A  letter  from  William  Shippen,  director  general, 
to  the  Medical  Committee,  was  laid  before  Con- 
gress and  read: 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Board  of  War. 

October  20,  1777.  823 

Resolved,  That  General  R.  Howe's  letter  of  the 
29  August  last,  relating  to  the  general  hospital  in 
South  Carolina,  be  referred  to  the  Medical  Commit- 
tee. 

October  24,  1777.  838 

Resolved,  That  a  warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer  for 
500  dollars,  in  favour  of  William  Shippen,  Jun^  di- 
rector general  of  the  hospital,  which  is  to  be  charged 
to  the  said  W.  Shippen,  and  for  which  he  is  to  be 
accountable;  this  being  to  indemnify  the  treasurer 
for  so  much  advanced  by  him  to  the  said  Dr.  Ship- 
pen  on  account  of  the  military  hospitals,  as  appears 
by  his  receipt,  dated  15  October,  1777. 

November  6,  1777.  870 

Resolved,  That  the  unremitted  attention  shewn 
by  Dr.  Potts,  and  the  officers  of  the  general  hospi- 
tal in  the  northern  department,  (as  represented  in 
General  Gates's  letter  to  Congress,  of  the  20  Octo- 
ber,) *^  to  the  sick  and  wounded  under  their  care, 
is  a  proof  not  only  of  their  humanity,  but  of  their 
zeal  for  the  service  of  the  United  States,  so  deeply 
interested  in  the  preservation  of  the  health  and  lives 

*'  Words  in  parentheses  were  inserted  by  Henry  Laurens. 

87 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

of  the  gallant  asserters  of  their  country's  cause;  and 
that  Congress,  therefore,  cannot  but  ascertain  a 
high  sense  of  the  services  which  they  have  ren- 
dered, during  this  campaign,  by  a  diligent  discharge 
of  their  respective  functions.^'' 

November  12,  1777.  894 

Ordered,  That  a  warrant  issue  on  Nathaniel  Ap- 
pleton.  Esq?'  commissioner  of  the  continental  loan 
office  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts  bay,  in  favour 
of  Dr.  William  Shippen,  director  general  of  the  hos- 
pitals, for  sixty-seven  thousand  dollars,  for  the  use 
of  his  department,  and  for  which  he  is  to  be  ac- 
countable: 

November  19,  I777-  94 1 

The  Medical  Committee  brought  in  a  report, 
which  was  taken  into  consideration;  Whereupon, 

Resolved,  That  the  cloathier  general  be  directed  to 
deliver  to  the  director  general  of  the  military  hospi- 
tals, the  deputy  directors  general,  or  their  assistants, 
for  the  use  of  the  sick  and  wounded  of  the  several 
departments,  a  proportionable  share  of  the  blankets, 
shirts,  shoes,  and  stockings,  he  shall,  from  time  to 
time,  procure  for  the  supply  of  the  army: 

That  the  director  general  of  the  hospitals  be  au- 
thorized to  cause  stoves  to  be  erected  in  the  differ- 
ent hospitals,  in  case  he  shall  think  such  a  measure 
will  conduce  to  make  up  for  the  present  scarcity  of 
blankets  and  cloathing,  or  to  the  greater  comfort  of 
the  sick;  and  that  the  waggons  annexed  to  the  hos- 
pital department  be  employed,  as  much  as  possible, 
in  the  transportation  of  fuel  for  the  respective  hos- 
pitals. 

*"  This  report,  dated  November  4,  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  No.  147,  I,  folio  381.  The  members  of  the  Board 
present  were:  Francis  Lightfoot  Lee,  WilUam  Duer,  Joseph 
Bones,  William  Williams  and  John  Harvie. 

88 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

November  29,  1777.  980 

A  letter,  of  the  16,  from  General  Gates,  .  .  . 
also  a  letter  of  the  24,  from  W.  Shippen,  director 
general,  at  Bethlehem,  were  read:  ^^ 

December  i,  1777.  983 

Ordered,  That  a  warrant  issue  on  Thomas  Smith, 
Esq?"  commissioner  of  the  loan  office  for  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania,  in  favour  of  Dr.  William  Shippen, 
director  general  of  the  hospitals,  for  fifty  thousand 
dollars,  for  the  use  of  his  department;  the  said  direc- 
tor general  to  be  accountable: 

Ordered,  That  a  warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer,  in 
favour  of  Dr.  William  Shippen,  director  general  of 
the  hospitals,  for  fifty  thousand  dollars,  for  the  use 
of  his  department,  the  said  director  general  to  be 
accountable: 

December  10,  1777.  1016 

Resolved,  That  two  members  be  added  to  the 
Medical  Committee: 

The  members  chosen,  Mr.  (Francis)  Lewis  and 
Mr.  (John)  Penn. 

Congress  having  received  information  that  the 
inoculation  of  recruits  in  the  hospital  in  the  State 
of  Virginia  has  of  late  been  attended  with  much  ill 
success; 

Resolved,  That  the  Medical  Committee  make  strict 
enquiry  into  the  truth  of  this  information,  and  re- 
port to  Congress,  with  all  possible  despatch. 

December  13,  1777.  1024 

A  return  of  the  number  and  names  of  the  wound- 
ed men,  distinguishing  such  as  are  fit  for  the  corps 
of  invalids,  and  such  as  are  totally  unfit  for  service; 

*i  The  letter  of  Shippen  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, No.  78,  XX,  folio  163. 

89 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

December  20,  1777.  1039 

The  Medical  Committee,  to  whom  it  was  referred 
to  enquire  into  the  conduct  of  the  director  of  the 
hospitals  at  Alexandria,  reported,  'That  from  the 
information  of  several  officers  in  the  Virginia  and 
North  Carolina  regiments,  which  are  annexed,  it 
appears  obvious  to  the  committee  that  Dr.  Rick- 
man,  director  of  the  said  hospitals,  has  been  guilty 
of  great  neglect  in  not  giving  proper  attendance  to 
the  officers  and  soldiers  under  inoculation  at  Alex- 
andria:" The  said  report  and  the  informations  being 
read. 

Resolved,  That  Dr.  Rickman  be  immediately  sus- 
pended, and  that  he  attend  the  Medical  Committee, 
to  answer  the  several  complaints  exhibited  against 
him. 

Ordered,  That  the  Medical  Committee  transmit 
to  Dr.  Rickman  a  copy  of  the  complaints  against 
him,  and  direct  his  attendance: 

That  the  said  committee  write  to  Dr.  Shippen, 
director  general,  and  direct  him  to  send  imrnediate- 
ly  a  skilful  physician  to  take  care  of  the  sick  and 
superintend  the  inoculation  of  the  soldiers  at  Alex- 
andria. 

January  i,  1778.  p.  9 

A  letter,  of  the  8,  and  one,  of  the  13  December, 
from  Dr.  B.  Rush  to  Mr.  (William)  Duer,  were  laid 
before  Congress,  and  read:  ^^ 

Resolved,  That  the  said  committee  be  fully  au- 
thorized to  take  every  measure,  which  they  shall 
deem  necessary,  for  the  immediate  relief  of  the  sick, 
and  report  such  alterations  in  the  medical  depart- 
ment, as  they  shall  deem  best  adapted  to  answer 
the  end  of  its  institution. 

^^  These  letters  are  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No 
78,  XIX,  folios  173  and  181. 

90 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

January  6,  1778.  p.  23,  24 

The  committee  to  whom  the  letters  from  Gover- 
nor Livingston  and  Dr.  Rush  were  referred,  brought 
in  a  report,  which  was  taken  into  consideration; 
Whereupon, 

Resolved,  That  the  cloathier  general  be  directed 
to  deliver  to  the  order  of  the  director  general  as 
much  linen  and  as  many  blankets  as  can  be  spared, 
to  be  retained  in  the  hospital  for  the  use  of  the  sick: 

That  the  cloathier  general  be  directed  to  supply 
the  convalescents  with  necessary  cloathing,  in  order 
that,  when  properly  recovered,  they  may  join  the 
army: 

That  a  member  of  Congress  be  forthwith  appoint- 
ed to  visit  the  hospitals  in  the  middle  department: 
the  member  chosen,  Mr,  (John)  Penn. 

That  a  recommendation  be  sent  to  the  clergy  of 
all  denominations  in  the  said  [middle]  district,  to 
solicit  charitable  donations  of  woolens  and  linen, 
made  or  unmade,  for  the  sick  soldiers  in  the  hospi- 
tals; and  to  send  the  same  to  the  Board  of  War,  or 
any  hospital,  as  may  be  most  convenient. 

That  Dr.  Shippen  and  Dr.  Rush  be  directed  to 
attend  Congress  on  the  26  day  of  January  inst.  to 
be  examined  touching  certain  abuses  said  to  prevail 
in  the  hospital. 

Resolved,  That  the  farther  consideration  of  the  re- 
port be  postponed  (to  the  afternoon.)     .     .     . 

Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  report 
under  debate  this  morning;  Whereupon, 

Resolved,  That  the  sum  of  ten  dollars  shall  be  paid 
by  every  officer,  and  the  sum  of  four  dollars  by 
every  soldier,  who  shall  enter,  or  be  sent  into  any 
hospital  to  be  cured  of  the  venereal  disease;  which 
sums  shall  be  deducted  out  of  their  pay,  and  an  ac- 
count thereof  shall  be  transmitted  by  the  physician 

91 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

or  surgeon  who  shall  have  attended  them,  to  the 
regimental  pay  master  for  that  purpose;  the  money 
so  arising  to  be  paid  to  the  director  general,  or  his 
order,  to  be  appropriated  to  the  purchasing  blan- 
kets and  shirts  for  the  use  of  sick  soldiers  in  the 
hospital. 

January  19,  1778.  60 

A  letter,  of  the  i8th,  from  W.  Shippen,  Jun, 
.     .     .  was  read:     .     .^ 

January  26,  1778.  92 

A  letter,  of  the  25,  from  Dr.  Rush,  was 
read:     .     .     .^^ 

January  27,  1778.  93 

A  letter  from  Dr.  Shippen,  director  general  of  the 
hospital,  and  one  from  Dr.  Brown,  (both  directed) 
to  the  Medical  Committee,  were  laid  before  Con- 
gress, (and  read:)  ®^ 

Ordered,  That  the  same,  together  with  the  letters 
some  time  since  received  from  Dr.  Shippen  and  Dr. 
Rush,  and  Governor  Livingston,  relative  to  the  hos- 
pital department,  be  referred  to  a  committee  of  five, 
and  that  the  committee  be  instructed  to  confer  with 
Dr.  Shippen  and  Dr.  Rush,  and  report  specially: 

January  30,  1778.  100 

Resolved,  That  a  warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer 
in  favour  of  Dr.  Jonathan  Potts,  deputy  director 
general  of  the  hospitals  in  the  northern  department, 
for  twenty  thousand  dollars  for  the  use  of  his  dis- 

'^  The  letter  of  Shippen  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, No.  78,  XX,  folio  171. 

"  The  letter  of  Dr.  Rush  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, No.  78,  XIX,  folio  197. 

^  This  letter  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
78,  XX,  folio  175. 

92 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

trict;  the  said  deputy  director  general  to  be  ac- 
countable. 

A  letter,  of  this  day,  from  Dr.  Rush,  requesting 
leave  to  resign,  was  read:  *'' 

February  6,  1778.  1 28-1 31 

Congress  took  into  consideration  the  report  of  the 
committee  to  whom  the  letters  from  Dr.  Shippen, 
Dr.  Rush,  and  others  were  committed;  and  there- 
upon came  to  the  following  resolutions: 

For  the  better  regulating  the  hospitals  of  the 
United  States, 

Resolved,  That  there  be  a  deputy  director  general 
for  the  hospitals  between  Hudson  and  Potomack 
rivers;  and  that  the  superintending  care  of  the  di- 
rector general  be  extended  equally  over  the  hospi- 
tals in  every  district,  and  that  he  be  excused  from 
the  duty  of  providing  supplies,  [and  from  "particu- 
larly" superintending  the  said  hospitals]*  when  the 
deputy  director  general  shall  be  ready  to  enter  upon 
the  office: 

That  the  several  officers  of  the  hospitals  shall 
cease  to  exercise  such  of  their  former  powers  as  are 
herein  assigned  to  other  officers  thereof: 

That  in  the  absence  of  the  director  general  from 
any  district,  the  physician  general  and  surgeon  geri- 
eral  shall  hereafter  determine  the  number  of  hospi- 
tals to  be  provided  by  the  deputy  director  general 
for  the  sick  and  wounded,  and  shall  superintend 
and  controul  the  affairs  of  such  hospitals: 

That  the  director  general  shall  consult  with  the 
physician  general  and  surgeon  general  in  each  dis- 
trict, about  the  supplies  necessary  for  the  hospitals, 
and  shall  give  orders  in  writing  to  the  deputy  direc- 

^^  This  letter  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No 
78,  XIX,  foHo  205. 

*  Material  in  brackets  was  cancelled  in  the  original  MSS. 

93 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

tor  general  thereof  to  provide  the  same;  and,  in  the 
absence  of  the  director  general,  the  physician  gen- 
eral and  surgeon  general  shall  issue  such  orders: 

That  each  deputy  director  general  shall  appoint 
one  or  more  of  the  assistant  deputy  directors,  under 
him,  to  the  sole  business  of  providing  beds,  furni- 
ture, utensils,  hospital  cloathing,  and  such  like  arti- 
cles; and  shall  appoint  one  or  more  to  provide  medi- 
cines, instruments,  dressings,  herbs,  and  necessaries 
of  a  similar  kind: 

That  the  director  general  shall  frequently  visit 
the  hospitals  in  each  district,  and  see  that  the  regu- 
lations are  carried  into  effect;  shall  examine  into  the 
number  and  qualifications  of  the  hospital  officers, 
report  to  Congress  any  abuses  that  may  have  taken 
place,  and  discharge  the  supernumerary  officers,  if 
there  be  any,  that  all  unnecessary  expence  may  be 
saved  to  the  public;  and  when  the  director  general 
is  in  any  particular  district,  the  physician  general 
and  surgeon  general  in  that  district  shall  not  ap- 
point any  officers  without  his  consent: 

That,  on  the  settlement  of  hospital  accounts,  the 
officers  entrusted  with  public  money  shall  produce 
vouchers  to  prove  the  expenditure,  and  receipts  from 
the  proper  officers  of  the  hospitals,  specifying  the 
defivery  of  the  stores  and  other  articles  purchased; 
and  the  apothecaries,  mates,  stewards,  matrons,  and 
other  officers,  receiving  such  stores  and  other  arti- 
ticles,  shall  be  accountable  for  the  same,  and  shall 
produce  vouchers  for  the  delivery  thereof  from  such 
officers,  and  according  to  such  forms  as  the  physi- 
cians general  and  surgeons  general  have  directed,  or 
shall,  from  time  to  time,  direct;  which  forms  and 
directions  the  physicians  and  surgeons  general  shall 
report  to  the  Board  of  Treasury: 

That  the  director  general,  or,  in  his  absence  from 

94 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

the  district,  the  physician  general,  and  surgeon 
general,  shall  appoint  a  ward  master  for  each  hos- 
pital, to  receive  the  arms,  accoutrements  and 
cloathing  of  each  soldier  admitted  therein,  keeping 
entries  of,  and  giving  receipts  for  such  articles, 
which,  on  the  recovery  of  the  soldier,  shall  be  re-* 
turned  to  him,  or,  in  case  of  his  death,  the  arms  and 
accoutrements  shall  be  delivered  to  the  commissary 
or  deputy  commissary  of  military  stores,  and  re- 
ceipts be  taken  for  the  same;  and  the  ward  master 
shall  receive  and  be  accountable  for  the  hospital 
cloathing;  and  perform  such  other  services  as  the 
physician  general  or  the  surgeon  general  shall  di- 
rect: 

That  the  physicians  general  and  surgeons  general 
shall  hereafter  make  no  returns  to  the  deputy  direc- 
tors general,  but  the  returns  shall  be  made  by  the 
said  officers  respectively  to  the  director  general, 
who  shall  carefully  transmit  copies  of  each  with  his 
monthly  return  to  Congress,  and  suspend  such  of 
the  officers  aforesaid  as  neglect  this  or  any  other 
part  of  their  duty,  and  shall  report  their  names  to 
Congress : 

That  the  director  and  deputy  directors  general 
forthwith  prepare  their  accounts,  and  adjust  them 
with  the  commissioners  of  claims,  at  the  Board  of 
Treasury. 

That  four  dollars  a  day,  and  the  former  allowance 
of  rations,  be  hereafter  allowed  to  each  assistant 
deputy  director  and  the  commissary  of  the  hospitals 
in  each  district;  and  one  dollar  a  day,  and  two  ra- 
tions, to  each  ward  master: 

Resolved,  That  Dr.  Potts  be  called  from  the  north- 
ern district,  and  appointed  to  act  as  deputy  director 
general  in  the  middle  district. 

Resolved,  That  the  eldest  assistant  deputy  director 

95 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

in  the  northern  district  shall  execute  the  office  of  the 
deputy  director  general  in  the  said  district,  until  the 
further  orders  of  Congress : 

That  the  salaries  of  the  hospital  officers  and  debts 
contracted  for  the  hospitals  of  the  middle  district 
to  the  time  of  Dr.  Potts's  entering  upon  the  office  of 
deputy  director  general  therein,  shall  be  adjusted 
and  paid  by  the  director  general,  who  shall  deliver 
all  the  public  stores  in  his  possession  to  the  deputy 
director  general  or  his  order,  taking  duplicate  re- 
ceipts for  the  same,  and  transmitting  one  of  each  to 
the  Board  of  Treasury;  and  the  same  rule  shall  be 
observed  by  Dr.  Potts  with  respect  to  the  salaries 
and  debts  of  the  hospitals  of  the  northern  district, 
and  the  public  stores  thereof,  which  are  to  be  de- 
livered to  his  successor  in  office  in  that  district. 

Congress  proceeded  to  the  election  of  a  physician 
general  in  the  middle  district,  in  the  room  of  Dr. 
Rush,  [  resigned  ]  and  the  ballots  being  taken. 

Dr.  William  Brown  was  elected. 

February  lo,  1778.  p.  142 

Resolved,  That  another  chaplain  be  chosen  for 
the  hospitals  in  the  middle  department: 

The  ballots  being  taken,  the  Rev.  Mr.  (James) 
Sproat  was  elected. 

February  13,  1778.  p.  157,  158 

That  there  is  due  to  Dr.  John  Witherspoon,  for 
hay  for  the  army,  and  wood  for  the  hospital  at 
Princeton,  as  appears  by  the  certificate  of  Enos  Kel- 
sey,  acting  in  the  quarter  master's  department,  the 
sum  of  429  30/90  dollars: 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Nathaniel  Scudder  be  added 
to  the  Medical  Committee, 

96 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

February  21,  1778.  p.  186,  187 

A  letter  of  21,  from  Dr.  W.  Shippcn,  was  read;  ^^ 
Whereupon, 

Resolved,  That  a  surgeon  general  be  appointed 
for  the  hospital  in  the  middle  department,  in  the 
room  of  Dr.  Brown,  promoted;  the  ballots  being 
taken, 

Dr.  Charles  M'Knight  was  elected. 

Whereas,  the  duty  of  the  person  who  executes  the 
office  of  secretary  and  pay  master  of  the  hospital  in 
the  middle  department,  is  important  and  difficult: 

Resolved,  That  the  pay  of  the  person  who  exe- 
cutes those  offices  in  the  hospital  in  the  middle  de- 
partment, be  augmented  to  three  dollars  a  day. 

That  a  warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer  for  the  sum 
of  forty  thousand  dollars,  in  favour  of  William  Ship- 
pen,  Jun.  director  general  of  all  the  military  hospi- 
tals, for  the  use  of  the  middle  district;  for  which 
the  director  is  to  be  accountable: 

February  23,  1778.  p.  191 

That  a  warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer  in  favour  of 
Dr.  Jonathan  Potts  .  .  .  for  one  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  .     .     .  he  is  to  be  accountable.^^ 

March  7,  1778.  p.  230 

The  Medical  Committee  report,  "That  they  have 
carefully  examined  and  considered  the  several  alle- 
gations and  testimonies  for,  and  against.  Dr.  Wil- 
liam Rickman,  deputy  director  general  in  the  south- 
ern department;  that,  notwithstanding,  it  appears 
the  North  Carolina  and  Virginia  troops,  inoculated 
by  the  said  Dr.  Rickman  at  Alexandria,  suffered,  in 
general,  more  in  the  course  of  the  disease  than  is 

^''  This  letter  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
78,  XX,  folio  193. 

^^  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
136,  II,  folio  101. 

97 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

usual,  and  that  a  number  of  them  did  die;  yet,  as 
the  committee  are  convinced  that  it  was  impracti- 
cable for  the  director  to  obtain,  in  season,  a  variety 
of  articles  for  their  due  accommodation  in  the  hos- 
pitals, as  many  of  them  were  badly  cloathed,  and 
all  had,  immediately  before  the  operation,  under- 
gone a  long  and  fatiguing  march  at  a  season  of  the 
year  when  putrid  diseases  generally  prevail  most;  as 
from  a  regular  return  it  appears  that  most  of  those 
who  were  lost,  died  of  a  putrid  fever;  as  the  director 
really  had  not  sufficient  assistance,  and  lastly,  as 
one  of  the  assistants,  of  the  name  of  Parker,  who 
was  employed  from  the  necessity  of  the  case,  ap- 
pears to  have  greatly  abused  the  confidence  and 
trust  reposed  in  him  by  the  director;  whence  a  great 
part  of  the  evils  complained  of  by  the  patients  may 
have  arisen;  the  committee  are  of  opinion,  that  Dr. 
Rickman  ought  to  be  acquitted  of  the  charges  ex- 
hibited against  him;  that  the  resolution  of  the  20th 
day  of  December  last,  for  his  suspension,  be  re- 
pealed, and  that  Dr.  Rickman  be  directed  to  repair 
immediately  to  his  department,  and  resume  the  ex- 
ercise of  his  duty  there:"  ^^ 

March  9,  1778.  235 

A  letter,  of  the  2,  from  Captain  W.  Nichols,  was 
read,  praying  for  leave  to  resign  his  commission. 
.  .  .  A  letter  from  Dr.  A(mmi)  R(uhamah)  Cut- 
ter to  Mr.  (George)  Frost,  praying  for  leave  to  re- 
sign, were  read:  ^^ 

Ordered,  That  Dr.  Cutter  have  leave  to  resign; 
that  the  letter  from  Captain  Nichols  be  referred  to 
the  Board  of  War; , 

*'  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Nathan  Brownson  (?),  is  in  the 
Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  19,  V,  folio  249. 

^^  The  letter  of  Nichols  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, No.  78,  XVII,  folio  37. 

98 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

March  ii,  1778.  243 

That  a  warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer,  in  favour 
of  Joseph  Nourse,  pay  master  to  the  Board  of  War 
and  ordnance,  for  50,000  dollars,  to  be  by  him  trans- 
mitted to  Doct.  Isaac  Forster,  deputy  director  gen- 
eral of  the  military  hospital  in  the  eastern  depart- 
ment, at  Danbury,  in  Connecticut,  for  which  the 
said  doctor  is  to  be  accountable: 

March  26,  1778.  284 

A  letter,  of  the  24  February,  from  the  council  of 
Massachusetts  bay,  respecting  allowances  to  be 
made  to  sick  and  wounded  soldiers,  was  read.  ^^ 

April  3,  1778.  p.  303 

A  letter,  of  21  March,  from  General  Washington, 
enclosing  a  copy  of  a  letter  to  him  from  Dr.  Rush, 
dated  Princeton,  25  February,  was  read;  also  a  let- 
ter of  9  March,  with  a  postscript  of  19,  from  Dr. 
Rush  to  Mr.  (Daniel)  Roberdeau,  was  laid  before 
Congress :  ^^ 

April  17,  1778.  p.  361 

That  30,000  dollars  be  advanced  to  Dr.  Potts, 
and  that  a  warrant  issue  in  his  favour  on  Thomas 
Smith,  Esq.  commissioner  of  the  continental  loan 
office  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  for  the  farther 
sum  of  70,000  dollars,  for  the  use  of  the  hospital  in 
the  middle  district;  for  which  sums  the  said  Dr. 
Potts  is  to  be  accountable: 

^1  This  letter  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
65,  I,  folio  288.  It  is  indorsed:  "There  are  no  resolutions  of  Con- 
gress respecting  soldiers  in  any  of  the  circumstances  mentioned 
in  this  letter." 

^  The  letter  of  Washington  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  No.  152,  V,  folio  411;  that  of  Rush  to  Washington  is 
in  No.  78,  XIX,  folio  211;  and  that  of  Rush  to  Roberdeau,  in 
the  same  volume,  folio  215. 

99 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

April  1 8,  1778.  p.  365,  366 

Resolved,  That  a  Warrant  issue  on  the  Treasurer 
On  question,  in  favour  of  Dr.  William  Shippen,  . 
negatived    for     Forty     thousand     Dollars,  .     .     . 
for  which  he  is  to  be  accountable. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  G(ouverneur)  Morris  be  add- 
ed to  the  Medical  Committee. 

May  16,  1778.  p.  504 

Ordered,  That  100,000  dollars  to  be  paid  to  Dr. 
Thomas  Bond,  Jun.  to  be  by  him  delivered  to  Dr. 
Jonathan  Potts,  deputy  director  general,  for  the  use 
of  the  hospitals  of  the  middle  district;  the  said  Dr. 
J.  Potts  to  be  accountable: 

May  23,  1778.  p.  525,  526,  527 

.  .  .  The  Board  will  lay  before  Congress  the  facts 
which  they  have  collected  from  Major  Wilson,  com- 
manding at  Carlisle  during  the  residence  of  Major 
Stockton  and  other  officers  of  his  party  in  the  goal 
of  that  place;  from  M^  T.  Peters,  Deputy  Commis- 
sary of  prisoners,  who  has  had  the  charge  during  the 
winter  of  the  prisoners  at  Carlisle  and  York;  from 
Doctor  Henry,  employed  to  attend  the  British  pris- 
oners when  sick;     ... 

.  .  .But  the  goal  at  Carlisle  not  being  secure, 
the  deputy  Commissary  of  prisoners  removed  them 
to  the  prison  of  this  place,  wherein  was  also  confined 
Doctor  John  ConoIIy,  for  the  same  causes  which  in- 
duced and  continued  their  present  imprisonment, 
and  for  other  reasons  of  policy  and  prudence.  Doc- 
tor ConoIIy  having  also  sundry  times  behaved  amiss 
while  on  parole. 

.  .  .  There  was  some  time  ago  an  apprehension 
in  a  part  of  the  goal  distant  from  the  officers'  apart- 
ments that  a  contagious  fever  had  broke  out  among 
the  soldiers,  but  the  diseased  were  immediately  re- 

100 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

moved  to  hospitals,  and  a  Surgeon  and  nurses  pro- 
vided for  them,  and  every  assistance  afforded  them 
the  nature  of  our  affairs  would  admit.     .     .     . 

Mr  ConoIIy,  altho'  indulged  with  every  thing  a 
prisoner  could  reasonably  wish,  has  repeatedly  rep- 
resented his  own,  and  the  situation  of  the  goal,  in 
similar  terms  with  the  letter  now  under  considera- 
tion, and  the  former,  and  this  Board,  have  often 
had  consequent  examinations,  in  all  of  which  they 
found  the  complaints  groundless.  Once  particularly, 
when  MF  ConoIIy  represented  himself  as  at  the 
point  of  death  from  the  severity  of  his  confinement, 
the  board  directed  Doctor  Shippen  to  visit  him,  who 
reported  that  his  situation  was  directly  opposite  to 
his  representation,  his  indisposition  slight  and  mere- 
ly of  an  Hippochandriac  Nature.     .     .     . 

Richard   Peters.^ 

May  25,  1778.  p.  531 

Resolved,  That  the  auditor,  together  with  Mr. 
Milligan,  one  of  the  commissioners  of  claims,  be  au- 
thorized and  directed  to  examine  and  pass  upon  the 
accounts  of  Dr.  Isaac  Forster,  deputy  director  gen- 
eral of  the  eastern  department. 

May  28,  1778.  p.  546 

That  755  42/90  dollars  be  advanced  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Commerce,  to  enable  them  to  pay  Andrew 
and  James  Caldwell  the  freight  of  sundry  medicines 
imported  in  their  sloop  from  Martinico,  on  public 
account;  the  said  Committee  to  be  accountable.^ 

June  4,  1778.  p.  568 

A  letter,  of  20  April,  from  Dr.  Rush  to  Messrs^ 
(William   Henry)    Drayton,    (Samuel)    Huntington' 

*^  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No- 
147,  II  folio  57. 

^  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
136,  II,  folio  321. 

lOI 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

and  (John)  Banister,  committee  appointed  on  3d  of 
that  month  to  inquire  into  Dr.  Rush's  charge  against 
Dr.  Shippen,  (was  read:)  ^* 

June  9,  1778.  p.  580,  582 

Ordered,  That  50,000  dollars  be  advanced  to  Dr. 
Isaac  Forster,  .  .  .for  the  use  of  his  department; 
and  for  which  he  is  to  be  accountable.     .     .     . 

Resolved,  That  the  deputy  director  general  of  the 
hospital  in  the  eastern  department  shall,  as  hereto- 
fore, in  the  absence  of  the  director  general,  superin- 
tend the  medical  affairs  of  that  department  till  the 
further  order  of  Congress. 

June  10,  1778.  p.  582 

Ordered,  That  200,000  dollars  be  advanced  to  Dr. 
Jonathan  Potts,  deputy  director  general  for  the 
middle  district,  for  the  use  of  his  department;  he  to 
be  accountable. 

N.  B.  Dr.  Potts  applies  for  300,000  Dollars;  but 
as  he  has  already  had  that  sum  advanced  him  since 
February  last,  and  as  the  Treasury  is  at  present 
very  low,  your  Committee  judged  it  improper  to 
report  so  large  a  sum.  They  beg  leave  further  to 
inform  Congress,  that  from  an  examination  of  the 
estimates  given  them  by  Dr.  Potts,  they  conceive 
th^  expences  that  accrue  in  his  Department  are  ex- 
v^rbitant;  they  have  therefore  laid  them  before  Con- 
gress for  their  Inspection.^^ 

June  15,  1778.  p.  607 

The  auditor  general  and  commissioners  of  claims 
having,  in  consequence  of  the  resolution  of  the  25 
May,  reported  upon  the  accounts  of  Dr.  Forster, 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Board  of  Treas- 

^  This  letter  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
78,  XIX,  folio  233. 

"  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
136,  II,  folio  349. 

102 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

ury,  and  that  the  accounts  of  Dr.  Forster  be  adjust- 
ed agreeably  to  the  said  report,  when  he  shall  pro- 
duce vouchers  shewing  the  expenditure  of  the  stores 
by  him  procured  and  charged  in  the  said  account. 

July  13,  1778.  p.  686 

The  Committee  for  Foreign  Affairs  laid  before 
Congress  a  letter  from  Dr.  Edward  Bancroft,  dated 
31  March  last  which  was  read,  and  returned  to  the 
Committee. 

August  4,  1778.  p.  746 

Ordered,  That  a  warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer 
for  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  in  favour  of  Jona- 
than Potts,  Esq.,  .     .     .  he  to  be  accountable. 

August  II,  1778.  775 

That  a  warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer  in  favour  of 
Dr.  Isaac  Forster,  .  .  .for  the  use  of  his  depart- 
ment, .  .  .  he  to  be  accountable;  and  that  the 
same  be  paid  to  John  Delamater,  as  requested  by 
the  doctor. 

August  14,  1778.  787 

A  letter,  of  the  i  August,  from  Mr.  (Samuel) 
Huntington,  one  of  the  delegates  of  that  State  in 
Congress,  was  laid  before  Congress,  and  read,  set- 
ting forth  sundry  evils  and  abuses  in  the  hospitals 
in  the  eastern  district:  Whereupon,^'' 

Resolved,  That  the  resolution  of  Congress  of  the 
9  of  June  last,  authorizing  the  deputy  director  gen- 
eral of  the  hospital  in  the  eastern  department,  in 
the  absence  of  the  director  general,  to  superintend 
the  medical  affairs  of  that  department,  be,  and  it  is 
hereby  repealed;  and  that  the  said  hospital  for  the 

^'  The  letter  of  Huntington  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continenta 
Congress,  No.  78,  XI,  folio  309. 

103 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

future  be  under  the  same  regulations  as  the  hospi- 
tals in  the  other  departments. 

Resolved,  That  the  director  general  be  directed  to 
enquire  into  the  state  of  the  hospital  in  the  eastern 
department,  and  give  proper  orders  for  the  good 
government  and  economy  thereof,  and  discharge  un- 
qualified and  supernumerary  officers,  if  any  there 
be. 

August  20,  1778.  816 

A  letter,  of  19,  from  Major  General  Arnold,  was 
read: 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Board  of  War, 
and  that  the  Board  be  directed  to  report  their  opin- 
ion on  the  necessity  of  an  additional  number  of 
troops  to  the  corps  of  invalids,  for  the  purpose  of 
guards  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia;  and  if  an  addi- 
tional number  is,  in  their  opinion,  necessary,  how 
many  and  for  what  purposes. 

August  21,  1778.  p.  825 

That  there  is  due  to  the  officers  and  privates  of. 
the  invalid  regiment,  for  pay  and  subsistence  for  the 
months  of  May  and  June  last,  the  sum  of  937  54/90 
dollars:  ®^ 

Ordered,  That  the  said  accounts  be  paid. 

September  3,  1778.  p.  863 

That  a  warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer  in  favour 
of  Dr.  Jonathan  Potts,  deputy  director  general  for 
the  middle  district,  for  70,000  dollars,  of  which 
40,000  is  for  the  use  of  the  hospitals  thereof,  and 
30,000  to  be  transmitted  to  Dr.  Johnston,  assistant 
director  of  the  northern  department;  the  said  Dr. 
Potts  to  be  accountable: 

**  This  report,  dated  August  20,  ia  in  the  Papers  of  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  No.  136,  II,  foHo  471. 

104 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

September  7,  1778.  p.  887 

A  letter,  of  28  August,  from  Dr.  (I.)  Forster,  dep- 
uty director  general  of  the  hospital  in  the  eastern 
department,  was  read: 

Ordered,  Tliat  it  be  referred  to  the  Medical  Com- 
mittee. 

September  16,  1778.  p.  918 

That  Dr.  John  Warren,  Executor  of  the  late  Ma- 
jor General  Warren  be  authorized  and  requested  to 
superintend  their  Education,  and  to  make  quarter- 
ly Drafts  on  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States  for 
the  Expences  incident  to  the  same,  transmitting  to 
the  Board  the  necessary  Accounts. 

September  18,  1778.  925 

A  letter  and  memorial  from  Dr.  J.  Morgan,  were 
read:  ^^ 

Ordered,  That  the  foregoing  letter  and  memorial 
be  referred  to  the  said  committee. 

September  23,  1778.  946 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  (Samuel)  Holton  be  added  to 
the  Medical  Committee. 

October  9,  1778.  p.  993 

That  there  is  due  to  the  officers  and  privates  of 
the  invalid  regiment,  commanded  by  Colonel  L. 
Nicola,  for  pay  and  subsistence  for  the  month  of 
August  last,  the  sum  of  1558  25/90  dollars: 

October  10,  1778.  997 

A  letter,  of  4,  from  Dr.  W.  Shippen,  director  gen- 
eral, enclosing  a  return  of  the  sick  in  the  hospital, 
was  read: 

**  This  position,  dated  September  17,  is  in  the  Papers  of  the 
Continental  Congress,  No.  41,  VI,  foHo  51.  The  letter  is  iu  No.  63. 
foUo  117. 

105 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  referred  to  the  Medi- 
cal Committee. 

October  20,  1778.  1031 

Whereas  by  a  resolution  of  Congress  of  the  22 
April,  1777,  it  is  provided,  that  the  several  com- 
manding officers  of  parties,  detachments  or  corps  on 
their  march  to  or  from  the  camp,  shall  send  to  the 
military  hospitals  such  of  their  officers  and  soldiers 
as  from  time  to  time,  are  unable  to  proceed,  unless 
from  the  distance  of  the  hospitals  or  other  causes, 
it  shall  at  any  time  be  necessary  to  deliver  them  to 
the  care  of  private  physicians  or  surgeons,  in  which 
cases  the  deputy  director  general  shall  discharge  the 
reasonable  demands  of  the  physicians  and  surgeons 
conducting,  agreeably  to  the  said  resolve. 

And,  whereas,  no  provision  is  therein  made  for 
discharging  the  accounts  of  other  persons  who  have 
been  or  may  be  employed  by  proper  officers  for 
taking  care  of  and  providing  for  such  officers  and 
soldiers: 

Resolved,  That  the  deputy  directors  general  be 
respectively  authorized  and  instructed  to  discharge 
such  of  the  said  accounts  as  shall  appear  to  be  rea- 
sonable and  just,  provided  that  each  person  who 
may  hereafter  be  employed  to  provide  for  officers 
and  soldiers  as  aforesaid,  shall  give  the  earliest  no- 
tice thereof  to  the  deputy  director  general,  or  the 
physician  or  surgeon  general  of  the  district,  in  order 
for  their  speedy  removal  to  the  mihtary  hospitals. 

October  22,  1778.  p.  1038 

A  memorial  from  the  regimental  surgeons  and 
surgeons'  assistants  of  the  Army  or  the  United 
States  of  America,  was  read : 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  a  committee  of 
three: 

106 


A 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

The  members  chosen,  Mr.  (Nathaniel)  Scudder, 
Mr.  (Samuel)  Holton,  and  Mr.  (Josiah)  Bartlett. 

October  26,  1778.  p.  1062,  1064. 

A  letter,  of  21,  from  Major  General  Lord  Stirling, 
enclosing  a  letter  to  him  from  Dr.  Griffith,  with  sun- 
dry affidavits  relative  to  the  massacre  of  Colonel 
Bayler's  regiment,  on  27  September  last,  was  read: 

.  .  .  Ordered,  That  Mr.  (Josiah)  Bartlett  be 
added  to  the  Medical  Committee: 

October  30,  1778.  p.  1079 

That  there  is  due  to  the  officers  and  privates  of 
Colonel  Lewis  Nicola's  regiment  of  invalids,  for  ra- 
tions and  parts  of  rations  retained  from  their  first 
establishment  to  the  31  of  May,  1778,  a  balance  of 
six  hundred  and  eighty-eight  50/90  dollars,  as  more 
fully  appears  by  a  particular  state  filed  with  the  ac- 
counts: 

November  3,  1778.  p.  no: 

That  a  warrant  issue  on  Thomas  Smith,  commis- 
sioner of  the  continental  loan  office  in  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania,  in  favour  of  Jonathan  Potts,  deputy 
director  general,  for  one  hundred  and  thirty  thou- 
sand dollars,  for  the  use  of  his  department;  he  to  be 
accountable:  ""^ 

A  motion  being  made  respecting  the  medical  de- 
partment. 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Medical  Com- 
mittee. 

November  9,  1778.  p.  1113 

An  extract  from  the  journals  of  the  assembly  of 
South  Carolina,  purporting  to  be  "a  report  of  the 
committee  on  the  president's  message,  relative  to 
the   hospital   establishment   and   military   arrange- 

''"  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
136,  II,  folio  665. 

107 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

merits  of  this  State,  as  agreed  to  by  the  House," 
was  laid  before  Congress: 

Ordered,  That  so  much  thereof  as  relates  to  the 
hospital,  be  referred  to  the  Medical  Committee,  and 
the  remainder  to  the  Board  of  War. 

November  12,  1778.  p.  11 24 

Ordered,  That  a  warrant  issue  on  the  treasury  for 
seventy-five  thousand  dollars,  in  favour  of  Jonathan 
Potts,  deputy  director  general,  and  another  warrant 
in  his  favour  on  Derick  Ten  Broek,  Esq.  commis- 
sioner of  the  continental  loan  office  in  the  State  of 
New  York,  for  seventy-five  thousand  dollars,  .  .  . 
for  use  in  hospitals  in  the  northern  department; 
.  .  .  said  deputy  director  general  is  to  be  account- 
able. 

November  28,  1778.  p.  11 70,  11 74 

That  another  warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer  in 
favour  of  Isaac  Forster,  Esq.,  .  .  .for  twenty-five 
thousand  dollars,  to  be  paid  to  James  Davison, 
.  .  .  said  deputy  director  general  to  be  account- 
able:    .     .     . 

A  memorial  from  the  magistrates  and  the  over- 
seers of  the  poor  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  was 
read,  praying  for  a  compensation  for  the  use  of  the 
house  of  employment,  occupied  for  continental  hos- 
pital :  ■'I 

Ordered,  To  lie  on  the  table. 

December  5,  1778.  p.  11 92 

The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  memo- 
rial of  the  regimental  surgeons  and  assistants, 
brought  in  a  report,  which  was  read,  and  after  de- 
bate, 

'^  This  memorial,  dated  November  18,  is  in  the  Pa  ers  of  the 
Continental  Congress,  No.  41,  VI,  folio  73. 

io8 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

Ordered,  That  it  be  committed  to  the  Medical 
Committee,  who  are  directed  to  take  into  considera- 
tion the  case  of  the  hospital  as  well  as  regimental 
surgeons,  and  report  thereon. 

December  28,  1778.  p.  1259 

Resolved,  That  a  member  in  the  place  of  Mr. 
(John)  Harvie  be  added  to  the  committee  on  the 
memorial  from  Dr.  Morgan: 

The  member  chosen,  Mr.  M(eriwether)  Smith. 

February  6,  1778.  p.  1282 

Resolutions  on  Hospitals. 

199.  Rules  and  directions  /  for  the  better  regulat- 
ing the  Military  Hospital  of  the  United  States:  /  In 
consequence  of  a  Resolve  of  the  Honourable  the 
Continental  Congress,  the  6th  of  /  February,  1778; 
to  be  punctually  observed  by  the  Officers,  Nurses, 
&c.  of  the  /  Eastern   Department.^^* 

(Signed)   P.  Turner,  Surg.  Gen.  M.  H.  E.  D. 

F?  Broadside. 

September  25,  1778.  p.  1287 

Provision  for  disabled  officers  and  privates. 
226.  In  Congress,  August  26,  1776  ....   In  Con- 
gress September  25,  1778     .     .     J^^ 

December  3,  1778.  p.  1289 

Health  of  Soldiers. 

235.  Directions  /  For  Preserving  /  The  Health  of 
/  Soldiers:  /  recommended  to  /  The  Consideration 
of  the  /  Officers  /  Of  the  Army  of  the  United  / 
States.  /  By  Benjamin  Rush,  M.  D.  /  Published  by 
Order  of  the  Board  /  of  War.  /  Lancaster:  Printed 
by  John  Dunlap,  /  In  Queen-Street.  /  M.DCC.LXX- 
VIII.  12?  pp.  8. 

''*  A  copy  is  in  the  Library  of  Congress.  Papers  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  No.  78,  xxii,  folio  567.  It  measures  40  x  25  cms. 
^^^  See  Pennsylvania  Archives,  vi,  755. 

109 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,   U.S.A. 

January  12,  1779.  51 

A  letter,  of  10,  from  Doctor  Shlppen,  Director 
General,  was  read: 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Medical  Com- 
mittee. 

Ordered,  That  two  members  be  added  to  the  said 
committee. 

The  members  chosen,  Mr.  (Thomas)  Burke  and 
Mr.  T(homas)  Adams. 

January  16,  1779.  73 

That  a  warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer,  in  favour 
of  Nathaniel  Eustis,  upon  the  application  of  Doctor 
Isaac  Forster,  deputy  director  general  of  the  eas- 
tern district,  agreeable  to  his  letter  of  the  28  Decem- 
ber last,  for  twenty-five  thousand  dollars;  and 

That  another  warrant  issue  on  Nathaniel  Apple- 
ton,  Esq.  commissioner  of  the  continental  loan  office, 
in  the  State  of  Massachusetts  bay,  in  favour  of  the 
said  Doctor  Isaac  Forster,  for  fifty  thousand  dol- 
lars; .  .  .  said  deputy  director  general  is  to  be 
accountable;  ...    for  the  use  of  his  department. 

January  23,  1779.  iio-iii 

Resolved,  That  the  director  general  (of  the  medi- 
cal department)  be  authorized  and  instructed  to  en- 
join the  several  deputy  directors,  physicians,  and 
surgeons  general  and  other  officers  under  his  super- 
intendence, to  attend  and  perform  such  duties  at 
any  post  or  place,  as  a  change  of  the  position  of  the 
army,  or  other  circumstances,  may,  from  time  to 
time,  make  necessary,  and  shall  be  required  by  the 
Commander  in  Chief,  notwithstanding  such  deputy 
director,  physician,  or  surgeon  is,  by  the  general  ar- 
rangement of  the  hospitals,  attached  to  a  particu- 
lar department;  and  that  in  case  of  any  dispute  con- 

iio 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

cerning  their  seniority  or  precedence,  the  director 
general  shall  determine  the  same  in  the  first  instance, 
the  party  supposing  himself  aggrieved  being  at  lib- 
erty to  appeal  for  redress  to  the  Medical  Committee. 
Resolved,  That  the  director  general  be  authorized 
and  instructed  to  supply,  for  the  use  of  the  regi- 
mental surgeons,  such  medicines  and  refreshments 
as  may  be  proper  for  the  relief  of  the  sick  and 
wounded  before  their  removal  to  a  general  hospital, 
and  to  be  dispensed  under  the  care  and  at  the  dis- 
cretion of  the  physician  and  surgeon  general  of  the 
army.''^ 

February  8,  1779.  151 

A  memorial  from  W.  Shippen,  director  general,  in 
behalf  of  himself  and  the  medical  officers  of  the  gen- 
eral hospital  in  the  middle,  eastern  and  northern 
districts,  was  read: 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Medical  Com- 
mittee. 

February  26,  1779.  255 

That  agreeable  to  the  application  of  the  Medical 
Committee  a  warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer,  in 
favour  of  Doctor  Jonathan  Potts,  ***  for  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  thousand  dollars,  ***  he  to  be  ac- 
countable. 

March  6,  1779.  ^§7 

Resolved,  That  a  warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer, 
in  favour  of  Dr.  Jonathan  Potts,  ***  on  the  applica- 
tion of  the  Medical  Committee,  for  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  dollars,  ...  for  which  he  is 
to  be  accountable. 

March  10,  1779.  301 

That  a  warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer  in  favour  of 

■^2  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  James  Duane,  is  in  the  Papers 
of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  33,  folio  277. 

Ill 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

Doctor  Jonathan  Potts,  .     .     .for  one  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  dollars,  .    .    .  he  is  to  be  accountable. 

March  13,  1779.  313 

The  committee,  to  whom  was  referred  the  memo- 
rial of  Doctor  J.  Morgan,  late  director  general  and 
physician  in  chief  in  the  general  hospital  of  the 
United  States,  brought  in  a  report,  which  was  read:  ^^ 

Ordered,  To  lie  on  the  table  for  the  perusal  of  the 
members,  to  be  taken  into  consideration  on  Thurs- 
day next. 

April  12,  1779.  440 

That  John  Nixon  Esqr.  Col.  Shee,  Andrew  Doz 
have  been  recommended  by  Francis  Hopkinson  Esq. 
Treasurer  of  Loans;  Hugh  Montgomery  by  Doctor 
Witherspoon,  and  John  Miller  Esq.  by  Doctor 
Ewing,  as  proper  persons  to  be  appointed  Commis- 
sioners for  destroying  the  Bills  to  be  taken  out  of 
circulation. 

April  15,  1779.  455 

A  memorial  from  the  staff  officers  of  the  general 
hospital  was  read: 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Medical  Com- 
mittee. 

April  16,  1779.  460 

That  a  warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer,  in  favour 
of  Doctor  Jonathan  Potts,  deputy  director  general 
of  the  military  hospitals  for  the  middle  department, 
upon  the  application  of  the  Medical  Committee,  for 
one  million  of  dollars,  for  the  use  of  his  department, 
and  for  which  he  is  to  be  accountable. 

April  27,  1779.  515,  523-524 

That  a  warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer,  in  favour 
of  Isaac  Forster,  Esq.  ***  for  one  hundred  thousand 

"  See  under  June  12,  "post." 

I  12 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

dollars,  to  be  paid  agreeable  to  his  request  to  John 

Adams,  ***  the  said  Doctor  Forster  to  be  account- 
able.74 

The  Committee  on  the  Treasury  report. 

That  information  has  been  given  to  the  Board  of 
Treasury  that  Alexander  McKallaher,  the  deputy 
commissary  of  the  hospital  at  the  Yellow  Springs, 
has  made  a  practice  of  exchanging  the  hospital  stores, 
such  as  sugar,  molasses,  &c.  for  butter,  poultry,  eggs, 
&c.  for  his  own  and  the  doctors'  table:  That  he  keep 
a  i^Iooded  horse  in  the  guard  house,  and  a  mare  and 
colt;  and  a  hostler  at  his  quarters,  and  another  at 
the  hospital,  that  he  entertains  all  people  who  come 
to  the  hospitals  with  wine  and  toddy,  alledging  that 
he  is  allowed  to  do  so  by  Congress  or  Doctor  Ship- 
pen,  the  informant  is  not  certain  which. 

That  those  circumstances  have  given  occasion  to 
great  clamours  among  the  inhabitants  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood. 

That  it  is  convalescent  hospital:  That  they  have 
repaired  the  Farmer's  houses  in  the  neighbourhood 
for  their  own  convenience  at  the  public  expence; 
Whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  the  information  from  the  Commit- 
tee on  the  Treasury,  relative  to  Alexander  McKalla- 
her be  referred  to  the  Medical  Committee,  and  that 
they  take  such  measures  for  ascertaining  the  facts; 
and  if  properly  supported  for  bringing  him  to  a  tryal, 
as  they  shall  judge  expedient.'^^ 

^*  Based  upon  Forster'a  letters  of  March  9  and  10,  1779. 

^*  The  committee's  recommendation  was  that  "an  enquiry 
ought  to  be  made  into  the  truth  of  the  said  charges,  without  de- 
lay; and  that  on  proof  thereof  the  parties  charged  ought  to  be 
suspended  and  brought  to  trial."  The  resolution  adopted  was  an 
amendment  offered  by  Elbridge  Gerry,  to  be  found  in  his  writing 
on  folio  259  1/2.  The  name  is  written  McKallaster  in  the  Journals, 
and  McKallaher  in  the  committee  report. 

"3 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

May  5,  I779-  549 

That  a  warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer,  in  favour 
of  Doctor  George  Smith,  for  the  sum  of  thirteen 
hundred  seventy  six  dollars  22/90,  equal  to  five  hun- 
dred and  fifty  pounds  ten  shillings.  New  York  cur- 
rency, reported  by  John  Welles  and  Edward  Chinn, 
Esquires,  commissioners  of  accounts,  at  Albany,  to 
be  due  to  him  for  cattle  and  forage  taken  by  order 
of  General  Schuyler  for  the  immediate  subsistance 
of  the  militia  and  other  troops  assembled  at  Fort 
Edwards  on  the  evacuation  of  Ticonderoga,  his  de- 
mand of  recompence  for  the  loss  of  fencing  being  re- 
jected.''® 

May  17,  1779-  599 

Resolved,  That  a  warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer 
in  favour  of  John  Gibson,  auditor  general,  for  four- 
teen thousand  dollars,  being  the  sum  he  so  paid  to 
the  said  Scott,  on  the  order  of  the  said  Nathan 
Brownson,  on  the  i  September,  1777,  on  account  of 
the  State  of  Georgia,  and  for  which  the  said  State  is 
to  be  accountable.'''^ 

May  28,  1779.  661 

A  petition  from  Isaac  Forster  and  others,  officers 
of  the  hospital  in  the  eastern  department,  was  read: 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Medical  Com- 
mittee. 

June  5,  1779.  689 

A  letter,  of  this  day,  from  John  Morgan  was 
read;^^  Whereupon, 

I 

'*  This  report,  dated  May  3,  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continenta 
Congress,  No.  136,  III,  folio  287. 

'^  This  report,  dated  May  17,  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  No.  136,  III,  folio  313.  The  account  with  the  State  of 
Georgia  is  on  folio  317. 

'*  This  letter  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
63,  folio  125. 

114 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

Resolved,  That  Saturday  next  be  assigned  for 
considering  the  report  of  the  committee  on  the 
memorial  of  Doctor  J.  Morgan. 

June  12,  1779.  722,  723,  724 

That  upon  the  application  of  the  Medical  Com- 
mittee, a  warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer,  in  favour 
of  Doctor  Isaac  Forster,  deputy  director  general 
of  the  eastern  department,  for  one  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  dollars,  .  .  .he  is  to  be  account- 
able.    . 

That  there  is  due  to  the  officers  and  privates  of 
Colonel  Lewis  Nicola's  invalid  regiment,  their  pay 
and  subsistance  for  the  month  of  April  last,  two 
thousand  three  hundred  and  seventy  three  dollars 
and  6/90ths.     .     .     . 

Congress  took  into  consideration  the  report  of  the 
committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  memorial  of 
Doctor  John  Morgan,  late  director  general  and  phy- 
sician in  chief  of  the  general  hospitals  of  the  United 
States,  and  thereupon  came  to  the  following  resolu- 
tion: 

Whereas  by  the  report  of  the  Medical  Committee, 
confirmed  by  Congress  on  the  9th  of  August,  1777, 
it  appeared  that  Dr.  John  Morgan,  late  director 
general  and  chief  physician  of  the  general  hospitals 
of  the  United  States,  had  been  removed  from  office 
on  the  9th  of  January,  1777,  by  reason  of  the  gen- 
eral complaint  of  persons  of  all  ranks  in  the  army, 
and  the  critical  state  of  aff^airs  at  that  time;  and 
that  the  said  Dr.  John  Morgan  requesting  an  in- 
quiry into  his  conduct,  it  was  thought  proper  that 
a  committee  of  Congress  should  be  appointed  for 
that  purpose:  and,  whereas,  on  the  i8th  day  of 
September  last,  such  a  committee  was  appointed, 
before  whom  the  said  Dr.  John  Morgan  hath  in  the 
most  satisfactory  manner  vindicated  his  conduct  in 

115 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

every  respect  as  director  general  and  physician  in 
chief,  upon  the  testimony  of  the  Commander  in 
Chief,  general  officers,  officers  in  the  general  hospi- 
tal department,  and  other  officers  in  the  army,  shew- 
ing that  the  said  director  general  did  conduct  him- 
self ably  and  faithfully  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties 
of  his  office:  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  Congress  are  satisfied  with  the 
conduct  of  Dr.  John  Morgan  while  acting  as  director 
general  and  physician  in  chief  in  the  general  hospi- 
tals of  the  United  States;  and  that  this  resolution 
be  published.^^ 

June  15,  1779-  733 

A  letter,  of  this  day,  from  Dr.  J.  Morgan,  was 
read,  charging  Dr.  William  Shippen,  Jun.  in  the 
service  of  the  United  States,  with  mal-practices,  and 
misconduct  in  office,  and  declaring  his  readiness  to 
give  before  the  proper  court  having  jurisdiction,  the 
necessary  evidence  in  the  premises  against  the  said 
Dr.  Wilham  Shippen.^" 

On  motion  of  Mr.  (Henry)  Laurens,  seconded  by 
Mr.  (William  Henry)  Drayton, 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  the  said  letter  be  trans- 
mitted to  the  Commander  in  Chief,  and  that  he  be 
directed  to  cause  such  proceedings  to  be  had  there- 
on, as  that  the  charges  alluded  to  in  it  be  speedily 
enquired  into,  and  justice  done. 

Ordered,  That  an  extract  of  the  letter,  with  the 
above  resolution,  be  transmitted  to  Dr.  Shippen. 

''^  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  William  Henry  Drayton,  is  in 
the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  19,  IV,  folio  185.  It 
was  presented  March  13,  1779.  Morgan's  "Vindication,"  dated 
February  1,  1779,  is  in  No.  63,  foUo  184. 

^'^  This  letter  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
63,  folio  129. 

1X6 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

June  21,  1779.  754 

A  petition  from  the  surgeons  of  the  American 
navy  was  read: 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Marine  Com- 
mittee. 

June  29,  1779.  782 

That  a  warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer,  in  favour 
of  Doctor  John  Warren,  for  seventeen  hundred  and 
forty  three  dollars  and  60/90,  in  full  of  his  account 
for  the  support  and  education  of  Joseph  Warren,  son 
of  the  late  Major  General  Warren,  to  April,  1779,  as 
allowed  by  the  council  of  Massachusetts  bay,  and 
that  the  said  sum  be  paid  to  David  H.  Conyngham 
authorised  to  receive  the  same.^^ 

July  19,  1779-  854 

A  letter,  of  19,  from  John  Morgan  was  read,  en- 
closing sundry  papers  relative  to  his  charges  against 
Doctor  Shippen:  ^^ 

Ordered,  That  copies  thereof  be  sent  to  General 
Washington. 

August  3,  1779-  917 

A  letter,  of  28  July,  from  Doctor  W.  Shippen,  was 
read;  ^  Whereupon, 

The  Medical  Committee,  to  whom  were  referred 
the  several  papers  and  memorials  from  the  officers 
of  the  Medical  department,  brought  in  a  report, 
which  was  read: 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  taken  into  considera- 
tion, when  the  report  from  the  committee  on  a  far- 

*i  Baaed  upon  an  order  of  the  Council  of  the  State  of  Massa- 
chusetts of  May  3,  1779. 

^^  Morgan's  letter  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
No.  68,  folio  133. 

^^  The  Shippen  letter  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, No.  78,  XX,  folio  435. 

117 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

ther  allowance  to  the  officers  of  the  army  is  consid- 
ered. 

August  1 8,  1779.  978 

Resolved,  That  until  the  further  order  of  Congress, 
the  said  officers  be  entitled  to  receive  monthly  for 
their  subsistance  money,  the  sums  following,  to  wit, 
.     .     .  ensign  and  surgeon's  mate  100  dollars. 

September  3,  1779.  10 18 

A  letter,  of  2d,  from  the  hon^-  Sr.  Gerard,  was 
read,  soliciting  leave  for  Mr.  Witherspoon,  a  surgeon 
in  the  service  of  the  United  States  to  go  to  France: 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Medical  Com- 
mittee. 

Resolved,  That  two  members  be  added  to  the  said 
committee. 

The  members  chosen,  Mr.  (Nathaniel)  Peabody, 
and  Mr.  (Frederick  A.)  Muhlenberg. 

September  29,  1779.  11 23 

That  on  the  application  of  the  Medical  Commit- 
tee, a  warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer,  in  favour  of 
Doctor  Jonathan  Potts,  .  .  for  one  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  dollars,  for  the  purchase  of  hospital 
stores,  and  for  defraying  the  necessary  expences  of 
his  department,  and  that  another  warrant  issue  on 
Thomas  Smith,  Esq.  commissioner  of  the  continental 
loan  office,  for  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  in  favour 
of  the  said  Doctor  Jonathan  Potts,  for  seventy  one 
thousand  one  hundred  and  forty  four  dollars,  in  loan 
office  certificates  [for  the  purpose  of  discharging 
a  debt  due  to  Robert  Morris,  Esq.  for  twelve 
boxes  of  surgical  instruments  purchased  of  him  by 
the  said  Dr.  Potts;]  the  said  Doctor  Potts  to  be  ac- 
countable .... 

October  19,  1779.  11 87 

Resolved,  That  Friday  next  be  assigned  for  taking 

118 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

into  consideration  the  report  of  the  Medical  Com- 
mittee on  the  medical  staff. 

October  22,  1779.  1 200-1 

Congress  took  into  consideration  the  report  of  the 
Medical  Committee  on  the  medical  staff,  and  some 
time  lacing  spent  thereon, 

Ordered,  That  the  farther  consideration  thereof  be 
postponed. 

October  25,  1779.  1208 

A  letter,  of  this  day,  from  Doctor  John  Morgan, 
was  read:  ^^ 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  a  committee  of 
three: 

October  27,  1779.  1211 

Sundry  returns  of  the  state  of  the  hospital  in  the 
southern  department,  were  laid  before  Congress  and 
read: 

Ordered,  That  they  be  referred  to  the  Medical 
Committee. 

October  27,  1779.  12 13-14 

According  to  order.  Congress  took  into  consider- 
ation the  report  of  the  Medical  Committee  and  af- 
ter debate. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  (Nathaniel)  Scudder,  seconded 
by  Mr.  (Samuel)  Holton, 

Resolved,  That  the  farther  consideration  thereof 
be  postponed. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  (Nathaniel)  Scudder,  seconded 
by  Mr.  (William  Churchill)  Houston, 

Resolved,  That  the  director  general,  each  of  the 
deputy  directors  general,  each  physician  and  sur- 
geon general,  each  senior  physician  and  surgeon, 
each  junior  surgeon,  each  apothecary  general,  each 

^  The  Morgan  letter  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, No.  63,  folio  137. 

119 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

chaplain  and  each  apothecary's  assistant,  in  the 
hospital  of  the  United  States,  [to  the  north  ward  of 
the  river  Potomac  ]  shall  be  entitled  to  draw  clothing 
annually  from  the  stores  of  the  clothier  general,  in 
the  same  manner,  and  under  the  same  regulations  as 
are  established  for  officers  of  the  line,  by  a  resolu- 
tion of  the  twenty-sixth  day  of  November,  1777. 

Resolved,  That  until  the  further  order  of  Con- 
gress, the  said  officers  of  the  military  hospital  shall 
also  be  entitled  to  subsistence,  in  like  manner  as  is 
granted  to  officers  of  the  line,  to  be  estimated  in  the 
following  ratio: 

1st.  The  director  general  to  receive  the  same  sub- 
sistence as  a  colonel  in  the  line: 

2d.  The  deputy  directors  general,  the  physicians, 
surgeons  and  apothecaries  general,  the  same  as  lieu- 
tenant colonels: 

3d.  The  senior  physicians  and  surgeons  the  same 
as  majors: 

The  junior  surgeons  and  apothecaries'  assistants 
the  same  as  captains:  and  the  chaplains,  the  same 
as  chaplains  of  brigades  are  entitled  to  by  a  resolu- 
tion of  the  1 8th  day  of  August  last,  and  to  com- 
mence from  the  said  i8th  day  of  August. 

Resolved,  That  the  mates  of  the  military  hospital 
shall,  during  service,  be  entitled  to  the  same  sub- 
sistence as  is  given  to  regimental  surgeon's  mates,  by 
the  resolution  of  the  iSth  day  of  August  last. 

October  28,  1779.  12 16 

Resolved,  That  the  resolutions  of  yesterday,  re- 
specting the  officers  of  the  hospital  department  of 
the  United  States,  be  re-considered;  and  together 
with  the  report  of  the  Medical  Committee  on  the 
hospital  department,  be  re-committed. 

November  4,  1779.  1237 

120 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

A  letter,  of  26  October,  from  Thadeus  Benedict, 
was  read,^^  respecting  the  conduct  of  Dr.  Forster: 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Commander 
in  Chief,  and  that  he  be  directed  to  cause  such  pro- 
ceedings to  be  had  thereon,  as  that  the  charges  al- 
luded to  in  it  be  speedily  enquired  into  and  justice 
done. 

Ordered,  That  the  Medical  Committee  transmit 
to  the  Commander  in  Chief  the  memorial  of  Thadeus 
Benedict  and  others,  against  Dr.  Forster,  and  such 
other  papers  as  they  may  have  respecting  that 
matter. 

November  5,  1779.  1240 

A  letter,  of  4,  from  Doctor  Forster,  was  read,  re- 
questing that  a  court  of  enquiry  may  be  appointed 
to  examine  into  his  conduct.^^ 

Ordered,  That  it  be  transmitted  to  the  Com- 
mander in  Chief. 

November  16,  1779.  1277 

The  Medical  Committee,  to  whom  were  referred 
the  resolutions  of  27  October  respecting  the  officers 
of  the  hospital  department,  together  with  the  re- 
port of  the  said  committee  on  the  said  department, 
which  was  re-com.mitted,  brought  in  a  report: 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  taken  into  considera- 
tion on  Friday  next. 

The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  letter  of 
25  October  last,  from  Dr.  J.  Morgan,  brought  in  a 
report;  Whereupon, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  execu- 
tive authority  of  the  respective  states,  upon  the  ap- 
plication of  the  judge  advocate  for  that  purpose,  to 

^  This  letter  is  in  the  Washington  Papers,  No.  92,  folio  312. 
^  The  Forster  letter  is  in  the  Washington  Papers,  92,  folio  311. 

121 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,   U.S.A. 

grant  proper  writs  requiring  and  compelling  the  per- 
son or  persons  whose  attendance  shall  be  requested 
by  the  said  judge,  to  appear  and  give  testimony  in 
any  cause  depending  before  a  court  martial;  and 
that  it  be  recommended  to  the  legislatures  of  the 
several  states  to  vest  the  necessary  powers  for  the 
purposes  aforesaid  in  their  executive  authorities,  if 
the  same  be  not  already  done. 

November  19-20,  1779.  1293,  4-6 

Resolved,  That  the  report  of  the  Medical  Com- 
mittee on  the  hospital  staff  be  postponed  till  to- 
morrow, and  that  the  same  be  taken  into  consider- 
ation immediately  after  reading  the  journal. 

Congress  took  into  consideration  the  report  of 
the  Medical  Committee  on  the  hospital  staff;  Where- 
upon, 

Resolved,  That  the  director  general,  deputy  di- 
rectors general,  the  assistant  deputy  directors,  the 
physicians  and  surgeons  general  of  the  hospitals  and 
army,  the  senior  surgeons,  the  second  or  junior  sur- 
geons, the  apothecaries  general  and  apothecaries' 
mates  or  assistants,  the  hospital  chaplains,  regimen- 
tal surgeons  and  mates,  mates  of  the  military  hos- 
pitals, commissaries,  assistant  commissaries,  pay 
masters  and  stewards  of  the  hospital,  who  shall  have 
been  in  the  service  for  the  space  of  one  year,  and  are 
at  present  employed  in  the  same,  shall  each  be  en- 
titled annually  to  draw  cloathing  from  the  stores  of 
the  cloathier  general,  in  the  same  manner  and  under 
the  same  regulations  as  are  established  for  officers 
of  the  line  by  a  resolution  of  Congress  of  the  26  day 
of  November,  1777. 

Resolved,  That  until  the  further  order  of  Con- 
gress, the  following  officers  of  the  military  hospital 
shall  be  entitled  to  subsistence,  in  like  manner  as  is 
granted  to  officers  of  the  line  by  a  resolution  of  the 

122 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

1 8th  day  of  August  last,  and  in  the  following  pro- 
portions, viz.  each  deputy  director  general,  500  dol- 
lars per  month;  each  assistant  deputy  director,  400 
dollars;  each  physician  general  and  surgeon  general, 
500  dollars;  each  physician  and  surgeon  general,  500 
dollars;  each  senior  surgeon,  400  dollars;  each  junior 
surgeon,  300  dollars;  each  apothecary  general,  400 
dollars;  each  apothecary's  assistant  or  mate,  100 
dollars;  each  commissary,  300  dollars;  each  commis- 
sary's assistant,  200  dollars;  each  clerk,  who  is  to 
be  pay  master,  200  dollars;  each  steward,  100  dol- 
lars; each  chaplain,  400  dollars; 

The  same  to  commence  from  the  18  day  of  August 
last. 

[  Resolved,  That  all  the  said  officers  of  the  military 
hospital  and  all  regimental  surgeons  and  their  mates 
who  shall  continue  in  the  service  to  the  end  of  the 
present  war,  shall  be  entitled  to  quotas  of  lands 
respectively,  in  like  manner  as  is  stipulated,  in  favour 
of  officers  of  the  line  by  the  resolution  of  the 
day  of  ,  which  quotas  shall  be  ascertained  and 

apportioned  according  to  the  rate  of  subsistance 
above  granted.  ] 

Resolved,  That  all  mates  necessarily  employed  in 
the  military  hospital  or  army  shall,  during  service, 
be  entitled  to  the  same  subsistence  as  is  given  to 
regimental  mates,  viz.  100  dollars  per  month. 

Resolved,  That  the  remainder  of  the  report  be  re- 
committed. 

November  22,  1779.  1297 

A  letter,  of  19th,  from  George  Morgan,  was  read: 
Resolved,  That  the  Medical  Committee  be  instruct- 
ed to  revise  the  several  resolutions  passed  respecting 
the  hospital  department,  and  to  digest  and  arrange 
them  with  such  amendments  as  may  make  the  whole 

123 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

consistent  with  and  conformable  to  the  alterations 
made  by  Congress  in  the  original  system,  and  re- 
port the  same  to  Congress. 

November  24,  1779.  ^303 

A  letter,  of  22d,  from  Doctor  J.  Morgan,  was 
read:  ^^ 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  transmitted  to  the 
Commander  in  Chief,  Doctor  Shippen  being  first 
furnished  with  a  copy  thereof. 

November  25,  1779.  13 10 

That  on  the  application  of  the  Medical  Commit- 
tee, the  following  warrants  issue  in  favour  of  Doctor 
Isaac  Forster,  deputy  director  general  of  the  eastern 
department,  amounting  to  one  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars,  for  the  use  of  his  department;  for 
which  he  is  to  be  accountable,  viz: 

December  10,  1779.  1366 

A  letter,  of  8,  from  D(avid)  Jackson  and  a  memo- 
rial from  the  officers  in  the  hospital  department, 
were  read:  ^^ 

Ordered,  That  they  be  referred  to  the  Medical 
Committee. 

December  13,  1779.  1373 

The  director  general,  to  whom  was  referred  the 
report  of  the  commissioners  on  the  memorial  of 
Lewis  Weiss  in  behalf  of  the  single  brethren  of  Beth- 
lehem, having  reported  thereon,  and  the  said  re- 
port being  read:  ^^ 

^^  The  Morgan  letter  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, No.  63,  folio  143. 

*'  Letter  of  Jackson  and  enclosures,  in  the  Paper  s  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  No.  78,  XIII,  folio  125-33. 

^'  Shippen's  letter,  dated  this  day,  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  No.  19,  VI,  folio  513. 

124 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

Ordered,  That  a  warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer,  in 
favour  of  Lewis  Weiss,  attorney  of  John  Bonn,  war- 
den of  the  single  brethren  of  Bethlehem,  for  three 
thousand  and  seventy  seven  dollars  and  60/90  for 
the  use  of  the  said  brethren,  being  in  full  of  their 
account  for  evacuating,  repairing  and  re-entering 
their  house,  which  was  used  as  a  general  hospital 
for  the  space  of  eight  months,  in  lieu  of  rent  and  all 
other  demands.^" 

December  22,  1779.  1400 

A  letter,  of  20,  and  one  of  22d,  from  Doctor  Mor- 
gan, were  read:  ^^ 

Ordered,  That  they  be  referred  to  a  committee  of 
three: 

December  24,  1779.  MOQ 

The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  letter 
of  20,  from  Dr.  Morgan,  brought  in  a  report,  which 
was  taken  into  consideration;  and  thereupon. 

Resolved,  That  on  the  trials  of  cases  not  capital 
before  courts  martial,  the  depositions  of  witnesses 
not  in  the  line  or  staff  of  the  army,  may  be  taken 
before  some  justice  of  the  peace,  and  read  in  evi- 
dence, provided  the  prosecutor  and  person  accused 
are  present  at  the  taking  the  same,  or  that  notice 
be  given  of  the  times  and  places  of  taking  such  de- 
positions to  the  opposite  party  four  days  previous 
thereto,  where  the  witness  resides  within  the  dis- 
tance of  thirty  miles  from  such  party,  and  six  days 
where  the  witness   resides   above  the  distance   of 

^  This  report,  dated  December  4,  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  No.  136,  III,  folio  873. 

'^  Morgan's  letter  of  the  20th  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  No.  63,  folio  165. 

125 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

thirty,  and  not  exceeding  eighty  miles,  and  a  reason- 
able time  for  a  greater  distance. 

p.  1435 

SUES  ADVANCED  IN  THE   HOSPITAL   DEPARTMENT 

Feb.      26.  To  Jonathan  Potts,  deputy  di- 
rector      150,000 

March  10.  To  do 150,000 

April     16.  To  do 500,000 

Sep.      29.  To  do 221,144 

Jan.       16.  To  doctor  Isaac  Forster,  dep- 
uty director  eastern  district .  75,000 

April     27.  To  do 100,000 

June      12.  To  do 150,000 

Nov.     25.  To  do 150,000 

June      29.  To  S.  Kennedy  for  rent  of  hos- 
pital at  Yellow  Springs    .     .  5,000 

Dollars  1,501,144 
p.  1440 

FARTHER    SUMS    ADVANCED    IN    THE    PAY-OFFICE     DE- 
PARTMENT 

Jan.        9  and  20 3857    5-90 

Feb.        9 2102  26-90 

March  30 2275    5-90 

April     12 2152  70-90 

May      13 2300    4-90 

June      12 2373    6-90 

January  i,  1780.  i 

A  letter,  of  30  December,  from  Doctor  J.  Morgan, 
was  read,  requesting  to  be  furnished  with  copies  of 
the  following  letters  and  returns  of  Doctor  W.  Ship- 
pen,  viz:  ^^ 

Letters  previous  to  October  9,  1776,  on  which 
were  founded  the  resolves  of  that  day;  of  November 

^  This  letter  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No 
158,  folio  305. 

126 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

I,  1776,  including  the  return  of  the  sick;  November 
9,  1776;  November  24,  1777,  and  return  of  the  sick, 
also  return  of  the  hospital  ofTicers;  January  19,  1778, 
with  the  return  of  the  hospital  officers,  &c.,  also 
Governor  Livingston's,  to  which  it  refers;  January 
26,  1778,  to  Francis  Lewis,  Esquire;  Whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Morgan's  request  be  com- 
plied with  and  that  those  of  the  papers  which  are  in 
the  possession  of  the  Medical  Committee  be  lodged 
in  the  Secretary's  office  for  that  purpose. 

January  3,  1780.  10-12 

According  to  order,  Congress  took  into  considera- 
tion the  report  of  the  Medical  Committee,  viz. 

That  each  and  every  officer  hereafter  mentioned 
and  described  in  this  resolve,  belonging  to  the  medi- 
cal department  in  the  hospitals,  or  army,  who  is 
now  in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  and  shall 
continue  therein  during  the  war,  and  not  to  hold 
any  office  or  profit  under  the  United  States,  or  any 
of  them,  shall  after  the  conclusion  of  the  war,  be 
entitled  to  receive,  annually,  for  the  term  of  seven 
years,  if  they  shall  live  so  long,  viz;  the  physicians 
general,  surgeons  general,  the  physician  and  surgeon 
general  of  the  army,  the  deputy  directors  general, 
each,  a  sum  equal  to  the  half  pay  granted  and  ex- 
tended to  a  colonel  in  the  line  of  the  army  by  a  re- 
solve of  Congress,  of  the  15  of  May,  1778;  the  senior 
surgeons  and  physicians,  assistant  deputy  directors, 
and  the  apothecary  general,  each,  a  sum  equal  to  the 
half  pay  of  a  lieutenant  colonel,  granted  and  ex- 
tended by  the  resolve  aforesaid;  the  junior  or  sec- 
ond surgeons  of  the  hospitals  and  the  regimental 
surgeons,  each,  a  sum  equal  to  the  half  pay  of  a  ma- 
jor in  the  line,  granted  and  extended  as  aforesaid; 
the  mates  of  the  regimental  surgeons,  the  apothe- 
cary's mates,  or  assistants,  each  a  sum  equal  to  the 

127 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

half  pay  granted  and  extended  to  a  lieutenant  in 
the  line  of  the  army,  by  the  resolve  aforesaid;  the 
whole  of  the  foregoing  allowances  are  to  be  subject 
in  every  respect  to  the  same  rules,  restrictions  and 
limitations,  upon  which  the  half  pay  of  the  afore- 
mentioned officers  of  the  line  was  granted  and  ex- 
tended by  the  said  resolve,  of  the  15  of  May,  1778. 

That  each  of  the  aforementioned  and  described 
officers  in  the  medical  department,  or  their  legal 
representatives,  respectively,  shall  be  entitled  to  the 
like  quantity  of  lands  with  the  aforementioned  and 
described  officers  of  the  line,  in  due  proportion  to 
the  sums  granted  to  them  respectively  by  the  pre- 
ceding resolve,  upon  the  same  conditions,  and  sub- 
ject to  the  same  rules,  restrictions  and  limitations, 
as  the  grants  of  lands  to  the  aforementioned  officers 
of  the  line,  by  a  resolve  of  Congress  of  the  16  Sep- 
tember, 1776. 

On  the  question  to  agree  to  the  first  proposition 
for  granting  half  pay,  the  yeas  and  nays  being  re- 
quired by  Mr.  (Roger)  Sherman, 

So  it  passed  in  the  negative. 

On  the  question  to  agree  to  the  second  proposition 
for  granting  lands,  the  States  were  equally  divided, 
and  the  question  lost. 

January  27,  1780.  99 

That  the  Medical  Committee,  as  soon  as  they 
shall  judge  convenient,  give  directions  for  removing 
the  hospitals  in  or  near  Philadelphia,  to  some  other 
place,  where  wood  and  other  necessaries  may  be 
procured  on  more  reasonable  terms  than  in  the  city 
aforesaid : 

That  the  issuing  commissaries  be  respectively  di- 
rected not  to  defiver  rations,  or  parts  of  rations,  to 
any  hospital  commissary,  unless  on  returns  signed 
by  him  and  countersigned  by  the  principal  physician 

128 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

or  surgeon  of  the  respective  hospitals,  specifying  the 
names  and  stations  of  the  persons  for  whom,  and  for 
what  time,  the  rations  are  drawn;  and  that  the  hos- 
pital commissary  be  also  required  to  annex  to  each 
return  the  receipts  of  the  persons  to  whom  he  shall 
have  delivered  the  provisions  drawn  on  the  last  re- 
turn: 

That  the  commissary  general  of  issues  direct  tlie 
form  of  the  returns  and  receipts  aforesaid.^^ 

February  7,  1780.  130 

A  letter  from  sundry  officers  in  the  hospital  de- 
partment was  read: 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Board  of  War, 
to  take  order. 

A  memorial  from  President  Wheelock,  of  Dart- 
mouth college,  was  read:  ^* 

Ordered,  That  the  same,  together  with  the  report 
of  the  committee  on  a  memorial  from  the  late  Doc- 
tor Wheelock,  be  referred  to  the  Board  of  War. 

February  9,  1780.  143 

'  That  on  the  application  of  the  Medical  Commit- 
tee, a  warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer,  in  favour  of 
Jonathan  Potts,  purveyor  general  in  the  middle  dis- 
trict, for  sixty  thousand  dollars,  to  defray  the  neces- 
sary expences  of  the  department;  and  for  which  sum 
he  is  to  be  accountable.^^ 
February  14,  1780.  166 

8'  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Elbridge  Gerry,  is  in  the  Papers 
of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  29,  folio  123. 

9^  This  memorial,  dated  January  3,  1780,  is  in  the  Papers  of 
the  Continental  Congress,  No.  41,  X,  folio  423;  the  letter  from  offi- 
cers in  the  hospital  department,  dated  February  7,  1780,  is  in  the 
Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  78,  XX,  folio  499. 

'^  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
136,  IV,  folio  79. 

129 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

The  Board  of  Treasury  beg  leave  to  report 
That  a  warrant  issue  on  Thos.  Smith  Esq-  Com- 
missr  of  the  Continental  Loan  Office  for  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania  for  Thirty  six  thousand  nine  hun- 
XT      f'     f]      dred  dollars  in  Loan  Office  Certificates 
^  in  favor  of  Jonathan  Potts   Purveyor 

General  of  the  Hospitals,  or  order,  for  which  sum 
the  said  Purveyor  General  is  to  be  accountable.^^ 
March  i,  1780.  220 

Two  letters,  of  February  4th  and  14,  from  Philip 
Turner,  were  read: 

Ordered,  That  they  be  referred  to  the  Medical 
Committee. 

March  18,  1780.  260 

That  on  the  application  of  the  Medical  Commit- 
tee, the  following  warrants  issue  in  favour  of  Jona- 
than Potts,  purveyor  general  of  the  hospitals,  for 
the  use  of  his  department;  and  for  which,  amount- 
ing to  forty  six  thousand  nine  hundred  dollars,  he  is 
to  be  accountable;  viz 

March  30,  1780.  317 

A  letter,  of  ii,  from  Doctor  L  Forster  to  the 
Medical  Committee  was  laid  before  Congress  and 
read. 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Board  of 
Treasury. 

April  4,  1780.  326 

A  letter,  of  28  March,  from  Doctor  J.  Morgan, 
was  read.^^ 

^  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
No.  136,  IV,  folio  91. 

"  Morgan's  letter  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
No.  63,  folio  169. 

(Note)  A  letter  from  W.  Rickman,  dated  April  23,  1780,  ap- 
pears to  have  been  read.  It  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  No.  78,  XIX,  folio  311. 

130 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

April  5,  1780.  330 

That  on  the  application  of  the  Medical  Commit- 
tee of  the  third  instant,  a  warrant  issue  on  Henry 
Gardiner,  treasurer  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts 
bay,  in  favour  of  Isaac  Forster,  deputy  director  gen- 
eral of  the  hospitals  in  the  eastern  department,  for 
forty  thousand  dollars,  being  part  of  the  monies 
raised  in  the  said  State,  for  the  use  of  the  United 
States,  and  for  the  use  of  that  department;  for  which 
the  said  deputy  director  general  is  to  be  accountable. 

May  4,  1780.  412 

Ordered,  That  a  member  be  added  to  the  Medical 
Committee. 

The  member  chosen,  Mr.  (James)  Henry. 

May  10,  1780.  417 

A  letter,  of  this  day,  from  Doctor  J.  Morgan  was 
read,  requesting  "to  be  indulged  with  an  authenti- 
cated copy  of  his  Excellency  General  Washington's 
letter  to  Dr.  Shippen,  referred  to  in  the  General's 
letter  to  him  (Dr.  Morgan),  of  January  6,  1779, 
dated  about  the  beginning  of  November,  1776,  and 
enclosed  to  the  President  of  Congress  in  Doctor 
Shippen's  letter,  dated  9th  November,  1776:" 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Morgan  be  furnished  with 
a  copy  of  the  said  letter,  agreeably  to  his  request. 

May  12,  1780.  425 

The  Board  having  considered  the  letter  of  William 
Rickman  Deputy  director  general  of  the  hospitals 
in  Virginia  referred  to  them  by  Congress  report 

That  the  said  William  Rickman  is  not  charged 
with  any  monies  in  the  Treasury  books,  [and  that  if 
he  has  received  any  monies  that  he  is  accountable 
to  the  Director  General  who  is  to  account  with  the 
United  States.] 

131    , 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

May  1 6,  1780.  430 

The  Board  on  the  references  relative  to  the  Chil- 
dren of  the  late  General  Warren  Report, 

That  the  accounts  for  the  Education  of  Joseph 
Warren  his  eldest  son  have  been  paid  to  Doctor 
John  Warren  up  to  April  1779  and  that  no  accounts 
have  Since  been  rendered, 

That  they  know  of  no  resolution  of  Congress  mak- 
ing provision  for  the  education  of  any  other  of  the 
Children  of  the  said  late  General  Warren. ^^ 

May  20,  1780.  442 

On  motion  of  the  Medical  Committee,  I 

Resolved,  That  on  the  application  of  the  Medica_ 
Committee,  the  Commercial  Committee  be  author 
ised  to  furnish  Doctor  Potts,  the  purveyor  genera/, 
with  two  hogsheads  of  sugar,  for  the  use  of  the  hos- 
pitals in  the  middle  district,  the  said  purveyor  gen- 
eral to  be  accountable. 

Resolved,  That  on  the  application  of  the  Medical 
Committee,  the  commissary  general  of  purchases  be 
directed  to  furnish  the  purveyor  general  with  two 
hogsheads  of  spirits,  for  the  use  of  the  hospitals  in 
the  middle  district,  the  said  purveyor  general  to  be 
accountable.^^ 

May  23,  1780.  447 

Congress  took  into  consideration  the  report  of  the 
Medical  Committee,  to  whom  was  referred  the  let- 
ter from  Governor  Trumbull,  of  the  ist  inst.;  and 
thereupon, 

Resolved,  That  the  director  general,  or  in  his  ab- 
sence, deputy  director  general,  of  the  hospitals  in 

**  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
136,  IV,  folio  303. 

'^  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Frederick  A.  Muhlenberg,  is 
in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  22,  folio  89. 

132 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

the  eastern  district,  be  and  he  is  hereby  directed  to 
hire  a  suitable  house  at  or  near  the  port  of  New 
London,  in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  for  the  recep- 
tion of  such  sick  American  prisoners  as  shall,  from 
time  to  time,  be  exchanged  and  landed  in  that 
neighbourhood;  and  that  one  senior  surgeon  or  phy- 
sician, and  a  suitable  number  of  mates,  be  occasion- 
ally employed  therein,  as  the  number  of  sick  shall 
increase  or  diminish.^*^" 

June  26,  1780.  562 

That  on  the  application  of  the  Medical  Commit- 
tee, a  warrant  issue  on  Abraham  Yates,  commission- 
er of  the  continental  loan  office  for  the  State  of  New 
York,  in  favour  of  Robert  Johnson,  assistant  direc- 
tor of  the  hospitals  in  the  northern  department,  on 
account  of  Jonathan  Potts,  purveyor  general  of  the 
military  hospitals,  for  the  sum  of  fifty  thousand  dol- 
lars, one  half  of  which,  payable  in  loan  office  cer- 
tificates, and  the  other  half  in  current  money  of  the 
United  States,  to  be  applied  in  the  department  afore- 
said; and  for  which  the  said  Jonathan  Potts  is  to  be 
accountable.^*"- 

July  I,  1780.  581 

A  letter,  of  this  day,  from  the  Board  of  War  was 
read : 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  referred  to  the  Medi- 
cal Committee,  and  that  they  take  order  thereon. 

July  6,  1780.  589 

Ordered,  That  on  the  application  of  the  Medical 
Committee,   a  warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer,   in 

100  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Frederick  A.  Muhlenberg,  is  in 
the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  22,  folio  87. 

^"^  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
136,  IV,  folio  367. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

favour  of  Jonathan  Potts,  purveyor  of  military  hos- 
pitals, for  twenty  thousand  dollars  for  the  purpose 
of  purchasing  necessaries  for  the  hospitals  in  the 
middle  department;  and  for  which  the  aforesaid 
Jonathan  Potts  is  to  be  accountable.^"^ 

July  7,  1780.  592 

Resolved,  That  a  member  be  added  to  the  Medi- 
cal Committee,  in  the  room  of  Mr.  J(ames)  Henry, 
who  is  absent: 

The  member  chosen,  Mr.  (Abraham)  Clark. 

July  18,  1780.  638 

Another  letter,  of  15,  from  General  Washington 
was  read,  enclosing  the  proceedings  and  sentence  of 
a  general  court  martial  on  the  trial  of  Doctor  W. 
Shippen,  Junr,  director  general  of  the  military  hos- 
pitals: 

Ordered,  That  the  consideration  thereof  be  as- 
signed for  to  morrow. 

Another  letter,  of  15,  from  General  Washington 
was  read,  respecting  the  hospital  department. 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Medical  Com- 
mittee.^**^ 

July  19,  1780.  646 

According  to  the  order  of  the  day,  Congress  took 
into  consideration  the  proceedings  of  the  court  mar- 
tial on  the  trial  of  Doctor  W.  Shippen,  director  gen- 
eral of  the  hospitals,  and  some  time  being  spent 
therein; 

Ordered,  That  the  farther  consideration  thereof 
be  postponed  till  to  morrow. 

102  xhis  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
136,  IV,  folio  409. 

103  Washington's  letters  are  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress. No.  152,  IX,  foHos  25  &  19. 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

July  20,  1780.  648 

Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  court  martial  on  the  trial  of  Doctor 
Shippen;  and  having  made  some  farther  progress, 

Ordered,  That  the  farther  consideration  thereof 
be  postponed  till  to  morrow. 

July  21,  1780.  648 

The  Medical  Committee,  to  whom  was  referred 
the  letter  of  15,  from  General  Washington,  brought 
in  a  report,  which  was  read;  Whereupon, 

The  Medical  Committee  to  whom  was  referred 
the  letter  of  the  Commander  in  Chief  of  July  15th 
beg  leave  to  report, 

That  they  have  conversed  with  D.  Cochran  and 
other  gentlemen  of  the  Hospital  department  by 
whom,  and  the  many  distressing  accounts  the  Corn- 
mittee  almost  daily  receive  from  every  quarter,  it 
appears  that  the  department  is  in  want  of  almost 
every  article  necessary  for  the  comfortable  suste- 
nance of  the  sick  and  wounded  soldiery.  They  are 
therefore  clearly  of  opinion  that  a  sum  of  two  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars  is  immediately  necessary  to 
put  the  department  on  such  a  footing,  that  the  dan- 
ger the  General  apprehends  in  his  letter  may  be 
avoided.  They  beg  leave  to  refer  to  the  enclosed 
estimate  and  submit  the  following  resolution. 

Ordered,  That  a  warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer,  in 
favour  of  Jonathan  Potts,  purveyor  of  the  hospitals 
in  the  middle  district,  for  two  hundred  thousand 
dollars,  for  the  use  of  the  hospitals  in  the  middle 
district,  to  be  applied  as  the  Medical  Committee 
shall  direct;  the  said  purveyor  to  be  accountable.^"* 
The  Medical  Committee,  to  whom  was  referred 

^"^  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Frederick  A.  Muhlenberg,  is  in 
the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  19,  VI,  folio  287. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

the  letter,  of  15,  from  Doctor  Brown,  brought  in  a 
report,  which  was  read;  Whereupon, 

The  Medical  Committee  to  whom  D.  Will, 
Brown's  letter  of  July  15th  was  referred,  beg  leave 
to  report: 

That  they  have  conversed  with  D.  Brown  and 
find  that  his  circumstances  will  no  longer  permit  his 
continuance  in  the  service,  and  as  it  appears  to 
them  that  he  has  been  a  faithful  and  diligent  officer 
they  submit  the  following  Resolution. 

Resolved,  That  Congress  entertain  a  high  opinion 
of  the  abilities,  integrity  and  past  services  of  Doctor 
William  Brown,  physician  general,  but  as  his  pres- 
ent circumstances  will  no  longer  permit  his  continu- 
ance in  the  service,  his  resignation  be  accepted,^"^ 

July  22,  1780.  654 

Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  pro- 
ceeding of  the  court  martial  on  the  trial  of  Doctor 
Shippen,  and  having  made  some  farther  progress, 

Adjourned  to  10  o'CIock  on  Monday. 

July  27,  1780.  676 

Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  court  martial  on  the  trial  of  Doctor 
W.  Shippen,  Junior;  and  some  farther  progress  be- 
ing made 

July  28,  1780.  677-8 

Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  tlie  pro- 
ceedings of  the  general  court  martial  on  the  trial  of 
Doctor  W.  Shippen;  and  some  farther  progress  be- 
ing made  therein, 

Ordered,  That  the  farther  consideration  thereof  be 
postponed. 

^^  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Frederick  A.  Muhlenberg,  is 
in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  19,  I,  folio  423. 

136 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

July  29,  1780.  680 

Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  general  court  martial  on  the  trial  of 
Doctor  W.  Shippen;  and  some  farther  progress  be- 
ing made, 

July  31,  1780.  684 

Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  court  martial  on  the  trial  of  Doctor 
Shippen,  director  general;  and  some  farther  prog- 
ress being  made  therein, 

August  7,  1780.  708 

Ordered,  That  the  Medical  Committee  report  as 
soon  as  may  be,  the  state  of  the  military  hospitals 
within  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  specifying  partic- 
ularly the  number  of  physicians,  surgeons,  mates, 
matrons  and  attendants  residing  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  the  places  they  are  employed  in,  and  also  the 
number  of  the  sick. 

August  10,  1780.  716 

W™  Shippen,  D.  G.  H.,  628,200  dollars.  Ren- 
dered accounts. 

August  16,  1780.  737,  8. 

A  letter,  of  15,  from  Doctor  W.  Shippen  was  read.^"^ 

Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  court  martial  on  the  trial  of  Doctor 
Shippen,  director  general,  and  having  gone  through 
the  evidence,  defence  and  judgment  of  the  court, 

August  18,  1780.  744,  5,  6 

Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  court  martial  on  the  trial  of  Doctor 
Shippen,  director  general,  when  a  motion  was  made 
by  Mr.  (Timothy)  Matlack,  seconded  by  Mr.  (Wil- 
liam Churchill)  Houston,  as  follows: 

^"^  Shippen's  letter  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress 
No.  78,  XX,  folio  541. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

That  the  court  martial  having  acquitted  the  said 
Doctor  W.  Shippen,  the  said  acquittal  be  confirmed. 

A  motion  was  made  by  Mr.  (Abraham)  Clark, 
seconded  by  Mr.  (Nathaniel)  Folsom,  to  amend  the 
motion,  by  inserting  after  W.  Shippen,  these  words, 
"excepting  that  part  of  the  2d  charge  relating  to  his 
speculating  in  hospital  stores,  on  which  the  court 
judge  him  highly  reprehensible." 

The  court  martial  having  acquitted  the  said  Doc- 
tor W.  Shippen,  Ordered,  that  he  be  discharged  from 
arrest. 

So  it  was  resolved  in  the  affirmative. 

August  22,  1780.  755 

A  letter  from  Doctor  W.  Shippen,  director  general, 
was  read: 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  a  committee  of 
three : 

August  28,  1780.  787-8 

The  committee,  to  whom  was  referred  the  letter, 
of  22d,  from  Doctor  W.  Shippen,  D(irector)*  G(en- 
eral),  brought  in  a  report;  Whereupon, 

The  Committee  to  whom,  D.  Shippen  Direc* 
Gen'^  letter  of  the  22nd  instant  was  referred.  Re- 
port, 

That  that  part  of  the  letter  which  respects  sup- 
plies of  Forage  for  the  Horses  belonging  to  officers 
of  the  Hospital  Department,  together  with  two  let- 
ters received  by  the  Committee  since,  from  the  Di- 
rector General,  be  referred  to  the  Board  of  War  to 
take  order. 

The  Committee  ask  leave  to  sit  again. 

Extract  of  a  letter  of  D.  Shippen  Aug.  22nd  1780 

"I  am  informed  to   day   by   the  Dep*^'  Quarter 

*  Material  placed  in  parentheses  appeared  in  brackets  in  the 
original  MS. 

138 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

Master  of  this  State  that  he  will  not  supply  our  de 
partment  with  any  more  Forage,  unless  he  is  au- 
thorised so  to   do  by  an   order  of  Congress,  which 
I  flatter  myself  will  be  given  immediately."  ^"^ 

Resolved,  That  that  part  of  the  letter,  which  re- 
spects supplies  of  forage  for  the  horses  belonging  to 
officers  of  the  hospital  department,  together  with 
two  letters  received  by  the  committee  from  the 
director  general,  be  referred  to  the  Board  of  War  to 
take  order. 

September  9,  1780.  814 

The  committee,  to  whom  was  referred  the  letter 
of  22  August,  from  Doctor  Shippen,  director  general, 
brought  in  a  report,  which  was  read: 

Ordered,  That  a  member  be  added  to  the  Medical 
Committee,  in  the  room  of  Mr.  (Samuel)  Holton, 
who  is  absent: 

The  member  chosen,  Mr.  (Theodorick)  Bland. 

September  11,  1780.  819 

Ordered,  That  Wednesday  next  be  assigned  for 
the  consideration  of  the  report  of  the  committee  on 
Doctor  W.  Shippen,  director  general's  letter,  re- 
specting the  hospital  department. 

September  19,  1780.  837 

A  letter,  of  this  day,  from  Doctor  W.  Shippen, 
director  general,  was  read: 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Medical  Com- 
mittee. 

September  22,  1780.  847 

Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  report 
of  the  committee  on  the  medical  department,  and 
on  the  consideration  of  the  following  paragraph,  viz. 

^"^  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Frederick  A.Muhlenberg,  is  in 
the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  136,  IV,  folio  541. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,   U.S.A. 

"That  the  several  officers  whose  pay  is  estabi 
Ifshed  as  above,  except  the  clerks  and  stewards,  shal- 
at  the  end  of  the  war  be  entitled  to  a  certain  provi- 
sion of  land  in  the  proportion  following,  viz. 

The  director  to  have  the  same  quantity  as  a  briga- 
dier general.  Chief  physicians  and  surgeons  and 
apothecary  the  same  as  a  colonel.  Physicians  and 
surgeons  and  apothecary  the  same  as  lieutenant 
colonel.  Regimental  surgeons  and  assistants  to  the 
purveyor  and  apothecary,  the  same  as  a  major.  Hos- 
pital and  regimental  surgeons'  mates,  the  same  as  a 
captain." 

A  motion  was  made  by  Mr.  (Frederick  A.)  Muh- 
lenberg, seconded  by  Mr.  (Theodorick)  Bland,  to 
amend  the  paragraph  by  inserting  after  the  words, 
"intitled  to"  the  words  following,  viz.  "half  pay  in 
the  same  manner  and  under  like  restrictions  as  offi- 
cers of  the  line";  and  on  the  question  to  agree  to 
the  amendment,  the  yeas  and  nays  being  required 
by  Mr.  (John)  Fell,.. 

So  it  was  resolved  in  the  affirmative. 

September  23,  1780.  853 

The  committee,  to  whom  was  re-committed  part 
of  the  report  on  the  hospital  department,  having 
brought  in  a  farther  report,  Congress  resumed  the 
consideration  thereof,  and  made  some  progress. 

Ordered,  That  the  director  general  report  the 
names  of  all  the  officers  in  the  hospital  department 
from  the  director  to  the  junior  surgeons  inclusive, 
with  the  dates  of  their  respective  commissions. ^°* 

September  25,  1780.  854 

'"^  Here  were  inserted  the  resolutions  on  the  hospital  service,  but 
Thomson  noted  in  the  margin  "reconsidered  and  amended  30th." 
They  are  printed  under  September  30,  1780,  post,  where  the 
changes  are  noted. 

140 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

The  director  general,  having  made  a  return  of 
the  ofiicers  of  the  hospital  ;^''^ 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Medical  Com- 
mittee. 

September  28,  1780.  871 

The  Medical  Committee,  to  whom  was  referred 
the  return  made  by  Doctor  Shippen,  delivered  in  a 
report. 

September  30,  1780.  876-88 

Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  report 
on  the  hospital  department,  when  a  motion  was 
made  by  Mr.  (Roger)  Sherman,  seconded  by  Mr. 
(Nicholas)  Van  Dyke,  to  reconsider  that  part  of  the 
report,  viz.  "That  the  several  officers  whose  pay  is 
established,  except  the  stewards  and  ward  masters, 
be  intitled  to  half  pay,  in  the  same  manner  and  un- 
der like  restrictions  as  officers  of  the  line;" 

And  on  the  question  for  reconsideration,  the  yeas 
and  nays  being  required  by  Mr.  (Roger)  Sherman, 


So  It  was  resolved  in  the  affirmative. 

A  motion  was  made  by  Mr.  (John)  Fell,  seconded 
by  Mr.  (William  Churchill)  Houston,  to  strike  out 
the  words,  "half  pay  in  the  same  manner  and  under 
like  restrictions  as  officers  of  the  line." 

And  on  the  question  shall  those  words  stand,  the 
yeas  and  nays  being  required  by  Mr.  (Roger)„Sher- 
man, 

So  it  passed  in  the  negative  and  the  words  were 
struck  out. 

Congress  proceeded  in  the  consideration  of  the 
report,  and  the  same  being  amended,  was  agreed  to, 
as  follows  i^^*^ 

^'"  Dr.  Shippen's  letter  transmitting  the  return  is  in  the  Papers 
of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  78,  XX,  567. 

'^°  From  here  the  entries  are  in  Thomas  Edison's  writing. 

141 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

Whereas,  the  late  regulations  for  conducting  the 
affairs  of  the  general  hospital  are  in  many  respects 
defective;  and  it  is  necessary  that  the  same  be  re- 
vised and  amended,  in  order  that  the  sick  and 
wounded  may  be  properly  provided  for  and  attend- 
ed, and  the  business  of  the  hospitals  conducted  with 
regularity  and  economy;  therefore, 
Resolved,  That  there  be  one  director  of  the  mil-i 
tary  hospitals,  who  shall  have  the  general  direction 
and  superintendance  of  all  the  hospitals  to  the 
northward  of  North  Carolina;  that,  within  the  afore- 
said limits,  there  be  three  chief  hospital  physicians, 
who  shall  also  be  surgeons;  one  chief  physician,  who 
shall  also  be  a  surgeon,  to  each  separate  army;  fif- 
teen hospital  physicians,  who  shall  also  be  surgeons; 
twenty  surgeons'  mates  for  the  hospitals:  one  pur- 
veyor, with  one  assistant;  one  apothecary;  one  as- 
sistant apothecary;  [and  to  each  hospital  one  clerk 
who  shall  also  be  paymaster,]*  a  steward,matron, 
orderly  men,  and  nurses,  as  heretofore: 

That  the  director,  or,  in  his  absence,  one  of  the 
chief  hospital  physicians,  be  empowered  and  re- 
quired, with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Com- 
mander in  Chief,  or  commander  of  a  separate  army, 
to  establish  and  regulate  such  a  number  of  hospi- 
tals, at  proper  places,  for  the  reception  of  the  sick 
and  wounded  of  the  army,  as  may  be  found  neces- 
sary: 

That  the  director  be  authorised  and  instructed  td 
enjoin  the  several  chief  hospital  physicians,  ano 
other  officers  of  the  hospitals  under  his  superintend- 
ance, to  attend  at  such  posts  or  stations  as  he  may 
judge  proper,  and  also  to  attend  and  perform  such 
duties,  at  any  post  or  place,  as  a  change  of  the  posi- 

*Material  in  brackets  was  cancelled  in  the  original  MS. 

142 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

tlon  of  the  army,  or  other  circumstances,  may  from 
time  to  time  make  necessary,  and  shall  be  required 
by  the  Commander  in  Chief;  and  that,  in  case  of 
any  dispute  concerning  their  seniority  or  precedence, 
the  director  shall  determine  the  same  in  the  first 
instance,  the  party  supposing  himself  aggrieved  be- 
ing at  liberty  to  appeal  for  redress  to  the  Medical 
Committee: 

That  in  time  of  action,  and  on  any  other  emer- 
gency, when  the  regimental  surgeons  are  not  suffi- 
cient in  number  to  attend  properly  to  the  sick  and 
wounded  that  cannot  be  removed  to  the  hospitals, 
the  director,  or,  in  his  absence,  the  nearest  chief 
hospital  physician,  be  empowered  and  required,  upon 
request  of  the  chief  physician  and  surgeon  of  the 
army,  to  send  from  the  hospitals  under  his  care,  to 
the  assistance  of  such  sick  and  wounded,  as  many 
surgeons  as  can  possibly  be  spared  from  the  neces- 
sary business  of  the  hospitals: 

That  the  director,  or,  in  his  absence,  two  of  the 
chief  hospital  physicians,  shall  make  out  and  de- 
liver, from  time  to  time,  to  the  purveyor,  proper  es- 
timates of  hospital  stores,  medicines,  instruments, 
dressings,  and  such  other  articles  as  may  be  judged 
necessary  for  the  use  of  the  hospitals;  also  direct 
the  apothecary  or  his  assistant,  to  prepare  and  de- 
liver medicines,  instruments,  dressings,  and  other 
articles  in  his  possession  to  the  hospitals  and  sur- 
geons of  the  army  and  navy,  as  he  or  they  may 
judge  necessary: 

That  the  director  authorise  and  instruct  the  pur- 
veyor and  apothecary  to  supply,  for  the  use  of  the 
regimental  surgeons,  such  medicines  and  refresh- 
ments as  may  be  proper  for  the  relief  of  the  sick  and 
wounded,  before  their  removal  to  a  general  hospital, 
and  to  be  dispensed  under  the  care,  and  at  the  di- 
rection of  the  chief  physician  of  the  army: 

143 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

That  the  director,  or,  in  his  absence,  the  chief 
hospital  physicians,  respectively,  be  empowered  oc- 
casionally to  employ  second  mates,  when  the  num- 
ber of  the  sick  shall  increase  so  as  to  make  it  neces- 
sary, and  to  discharge  them  as  soon  as  the  circum- 
stances of  the  sick  will  admit: 

That  the  director,  or,  in  his  absence,  the  chief 
hospital  physicians,  respectively,  shall  appoint  a 
ward  master  for  each  hospital,  to  receive  the  spare 
regimental  cloathing,  arms,  and  accoutrements  of 
each  soldier  admitted  therein,  keeping  entries  of 
and  giving  receipts  for  every  article  received,  which, 
when  the  soldier  shall  be  discharged,  shall  be  ac- 
counted for  by  the  said  ward  master  with  the  com- 
manding officer  of  the  regiment  to  which  such  sol- 
dier belonged,  or  the  officer  directed  to  take  charge 
of  the  convalescents  from  the  said  hospital;  or,  in 
case  of  the  death  of  the  soldier,  shall  be  accounted 
for  with,  and  delivered  to  the  quartermaster  of  the 
regiment  to  which  the  said  soldier  belonged;  and  the 
ward  master  shall  receive  and  be  accountable  for 
the  hospital  cloathing,  and  perform  such  other  ser- 
vices as  the  chief  hospital  physician  shall  direct. 

That  the  director  shall  make  returns  of  all  the 
sick  and  wounded  in  the  hospitals,  once  every 
month,  to  the  medical  committee,  together  with  the 
names  and  ranks  of  all  the  officers  and  others  em- 
ployed in  the  several  hospitals: 

That  the  director  be  required  to  employ  such  part 
of  his  time  as  may  be  spared  from  the  duties  before 
pointed  out  to  him,  in  visiting  and  prescribing  for 
the  sick  and  wounded  of  the  hospitals;  and  that  he 
pay  particular  attention  to  the  conduct  of  the  sev- 
eral officers  in  the  hospital  department,  and  arrest, 
suspend  and  bring  to  trial,  all  delinquents  within 
the  same: 

144 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

That  the  duty  of  the  chief  hospital  physician  shall 
be,  to  do  and  perform  all  the  duties  herein  before  en- 
joined them  to  do  in  the  absence  of  the  director;  to 
receive  and  obey  the  orders  of  the  director,  made 
and  delivered  to  them  in  writing,  to  superintend  the 
practice  of  physick  and  surgery  in  the  hospitals  put 
under  their  particular  care  by  the  director,  or  which, 
by  the  order  of  the  commander  in  chief  or  the  com- 
mander of  a  separate  army,  may  be  by  them  estab- 
lished; to  see  that  the  hospital  physicians  and  other 
officers  attending  the  same,  do  their  duty;  and  make 
monthly  returns  to  the  director,  of  the  state  and 
number  of  the  sick  and  wounded  in  the  hospitals 
under  their  care;  and  also  make  to  the  director,  and 
to  the  medical  committee,  of  all  delinquent  officers, 
in  order  that  they  may  be  speedily  removed  or  pun- 
ished; and  to  take  measures  that  all  such  sick  and 
wounded  as  are  recovered  and  fit  for  duty  be  deliv- 
ered weekly  to  the  officer  of  the  guard,  to  be  con- 
ducted to  the  army:  when  present  at  any  hospital, 
to  issue  orders  to  the  proper  officers  for  supplying 
them  with  necessaries;  and  generally,  in  the  absence 
of  the  director,  to  superintend  and  controul  the  busi- 
ness of  such  hospitals,  suspend  delinquent  and  re- 
move unnecessary  non-commissioned  officers,  mak- 
ing report  to  the  director;  and,  when  in  their  power, 
to  attend  and  perform  or  direct  all  capital  opera- 
tions: 

That  the  hospital  physicians  shall  take  charge  of 
such  particular  hospitals  as  may  be  assigned  them 
by  the  director:  They  shall  obey  the  orders  of  the 
director,  or  in  his  absence,  of  the  chief  hospital  phy- 
sician: They  shall  have  power  to  suspend  officers 
under  them,  and  to  confine  other  persons  serving  in 
the  hospitals  under  their  charge,  for  negligence  or 
ill-behaviour,  until  the  matter  be  regularly  inquired 

145 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

into:  They  shall  diligently  attend  to  the  cases  of  the 
sick  and  wounded  of  the  hospitals  under  their  care, 
administering  at  all  times  proper  relief,  as  far  as 
may  be  in  their  power:  They  shall  respectively  give 
orders,  under  their  hands,  to  the  assistant  purveyor 
or  steward  at  the  hospital,  for  the  issuing  provisions 
and  stores,  as  well  as  for  the  procuring  any  other 
articles  that  the  exigencies  of  the  hospital  may  re- 
quire, and  which  the  store  is  not  provided  with,  hav- 
ing always  a  strict  regard  to  economy,  as  well  as  the 
welfare  of  the  sick  then  to  be  provided  for:  They 
shall  make  weekly  returns  to  the  nearest  chief  hos- 
pital physician,  of  the  state  of  the  hospitals  under 
their  respective  care. 

The  mates  shall  each  take  charge  of  and  attend 
the  patients  assigned  them,  and  perform  such  other 
duties  as  shall  be  directed  by  the  director,  chief  or 
other  physicians  and  surgeons. 

The  chief  physician  and  surgeon  of  the  army  shall 
be  subject  to  the  orders  and  controul  of  the  direc- 
tor: His  duty  shall  be  to  superintend  the  regimental 
surgeons  and  their  mates,  and  to  see  that  they  do 
their  duty:  To  hear  all  complaints  against  the  said 
regimental  surgeons  and  mates,  and  make  report  of 
them  to  the  director,  or,  in  his  absence,  to  the  Com- 
mander in  Chief  or  commanding  officer  of  a  separate 
army,  that  they  may  be  brought  to  trial  by  court- 
martial  for  misbehaviour:  To  draw  for  and  receive 
from  the  purveyor  a  suitable  number  of  large  strong 
tents,  beds,  bedding  and  hospital  stores,  and  from 
the  apothecary,  or  his  assistant,  proper  medicines, 
for  such  sick  and  wounded  persons  as  can  not  be 
removed  to  the  general  hospital  with  safety,  or  may 
be  rendered  fit  for  duty  in  a  short  time.  He  shall 
also  see  that  the  sick  and  wounded,  while  under  his 
care,  are  properly  attended  and  provided  for,  and 

146 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

conveyed,  when  fit  to  be  removed,  to  the  general 
hospital;  for  which  last  purpose,  he  shall  be  sup- 
plied by  the  quartermaster  general,  with  a  proper 
number  of  convenient  wagons  and  drivers;  he  shall 
have  a  steward,  which  he  is  to  appoint,  to  receive 
and  properly  dispense  such  articles  of  diet  and  re- 
freshment as  shall  be  procured  for  the  sick;  and  also 
shall  appoint  such  a  number  of  nurses  and  orderly 
men  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  attendance  of  the 
sick  and  wounded  under  his  care.  He  shall  cause 
daily  returns  to  be  made  to  him  of  all  the  sick  and 
wounded  which  have  been  removed  to  the  hospitals, 
all  that  remain  in  the  hospital  tents,  all  that  are  be- 
come fit  for  duty,  all  that  are  convalescent,  and  all 
who  may  have  died,  specifying  the  particular  mala- 
dies under  which  the  sick  and  wounded  labour,  and 
shall  make  a  monthly  return  thereof  to  the  director, 
who  shall  add  it  to  his  general  hospital  returns,  to 
be  transmitted  monthly  to  the  Medical  Committee. 

That  whenever  any  regimental  surgeon  or  mate 
shall  be  absent  from  his  regiment,  without  leave 
from  the  chief  physician  and  surgeon  or  commander 
of  the  army  where  his  duty  lies,  the  said  chief  physi- 
cian and  surgeon  shall  have  power  to  remove  such 
surgeon  or  mate  and  forthwith  appoint  another  in 
his  stead. 

That  the  purveyor  provide,  or  cause  to  be  pro- 
vided, all  hospital  stores,  medicines,  instruments, 
dressings,  utensils,  and  such  other  articles  as  shall 
be  prescribed  by  the  written  order  of  the  director, 
or  two  of  the  chief  hospital  physicians,  and  deliver, 
or  cause  the  same  to  be  delivered,  upon  written  or- 
ders, under  the  hands  of  the  director,  or  chief  hospi- 
tal physician,  or  one  of  the  hospital  physicians,  hav- 
ing the  charge  of  a  particular  hospital,  or  of  a  chief 
physician  and  surgeon  of  the  army,  which,  with  re- 

147 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

ceipts  thereon  for  delivery  of  the  same,  shall  be  his 
sufficient  vouchers.  He  shall  be  allowed  a  clerk,  and 
as  many  store  keepers  as  occasion  may  require,  and 
the  director  shall  approve  of.  He  shall  also  pay  the 
salaries  of  the  officers,  and  all  other  expences  of  the 
hospitals.  He  shall  render  his  accounts  every  three 
months  to  the  Board  of  Treasury  for  settlement,  and 
make  application  for  money  to  the  Medical  Com- 
mittee, before  whom  he  shall  lay  estimates  of  arti- 
cles necessary,  which  shall  previously  have  been  ap- 
proved and  signed  by  the  director  or  two  of  the 
chief  hospital  physicians;  at  the  same  time  he  shall 
render  to  them  an  account  of  the  expenditure  of  the 
last  sum  of  money  advanced  to  him;  and  the  said 
Medical  Committee  shall  lay  such  estimates  before 
Congress,  with  their  opinion  thereon: 

That  the  assistant  purveyor  shall  procure  such 
supplies,  and  do  and  perform  such  parts  of  the  pur- 
veyor's duty,  as  by  him  shall  be  particularly  as- 
signed to  him. 

That  the  apothecary  and  his  assistant  receive, 
prepare  and  deliver  medicines,  instruments  and 
dressings,  and  such  other  articles  of  his  depart- 
ment, to  the  hospitals  and  army,  on  orders  in  writ- 
ing from  the  director,  or  either  of  the  chief  hospital 
physicans,  or  chief  physician  and  surgeon  of  the 
army;  and  that  he  be  allowed  as  many  mates  as  oc- 
casion may  require,  and  the  director  shall  approve  of: 

That  the  director,  or  in  his  absence,  the  chief  hos- 
pital physician,  shall  appoint  a  steward  for  each  hos- 
pital, whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  purchase  vegetables 
and  other  small  articles,  under  the  direction  of  the 
purveyor,  and  to  receive  hospital  stores  from  the 
purveyor,  and  provisions  fromt  he  commissary  gen- 
eral, and  issue  the  same  for  the  use  of  the  sick  and 
wounded,  agreeably  to  the  order  of  the   physician 

148 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

and  surgeon  attending  such  hospital;  the  steward  to 
account  with  the  purveyor  for  all  such  issues: 

That  the  director,  or,  iu  his  absence,  the  chief 
hospital  physician,  appoint  a  proper  number  of  ma- 
trons, nurses,  and  others,  necessary  for  the  regular 
management  of  the  hospitals,  and  fix  and  ascertain 
their  pay,  not  exceeding  the  sums  heretofore  allowed; 
and  point  out  and  prescribe  their  particular  duties 
and  employments,  in  writing,  which  they  are  en- 
joined to  observe  and  obey: 

That  the  director,  with  two  chief  hospital  physi- 
cians, be  empowered  to  fix  the  pay  of  second  mates, 
and  of  such  clerks,  store  keepers,  and  other  persons, 
as  may  occasionally  be  employed;  and  also  make 
such  regulations,  and  point  out  and  enjoin,  in  writ- 
ing, such  further  particular  duties  for  the  several 
officers  in  the  hospital  department,  as  they  may 
judge  necessary  for  the  regular  management  of  the 
same;  which  duties  shall  always  be  consistent  with, 
and  in  no  wise  contradictory  to  any  of  the  duties 
herein  before  particularly  enumerated,  and  which 
being  reported  to,  and  approved  of  by  the  Medical 
Committee,  shall  thereupon  become  obligatory  to 
all  those  concerned: 

That  the  quartermaster  general  furnish  the  hos- 
pital department,  from  time  to  time,  as  occasion 
may  require,  with  such  a  number  of  horses  and 
wagons  as  may  be  necessary  for  removing  the  sick 
and  wounded,  and  for  transporting  the  hospital 
stores;  but  that  no  other  horses  than  those  belong- 
ing to  the  officers  of  the  department,  for  which  for- 
age may  be  herein  allowed,  be  kept  separately  and 
at  the  expence  of  the  department: 

That  no  person  concerned  in  trade,  on  his  own 
account,  shall  be  suffered  to  act  as  an  officer  in  the 
hospital  or  medical  department  of  the  army: 

149 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

That  no  officer  or  other  person  in  the  hospital  de- 
partment, except  the  sick  and  wounded,  be  permit- 
ted to  use  any  of  the  stores  provided  for  the  sick: 

That  the  director,  chief  hospital  physicians,  and 
the  chief  physicians  and  surgeons  of  the  army,  phy- 
sicians and  surgeons,  purveyor,  apothecary,  assist- 
ant purveyor,  and  assistant  apothecary,  be  appoint- 
ed and  commissioned  by  Congress;  the  regimental 
surgeons  and  mates  to  be  appointed  as  heretofore: 

That  the  director,  with  the  advice  and  concur- 
rence of  two  of  the  chief  hospital  physicians,  appoint 
all  hospital  mates,  which  appointments  shall  be  cer- 
tified by  warrants  under  the  hand  of  the  director;  in 
which  appointments  no  person  shall  be  admitted 
under  the  age  of  twenty-one  years: 

That  all  the  officers  in  the  hospital  or  medical  de- 
partments, shall  be  subjected  to  trial  by  courts-mar- 
tial for  all  offences,  in  the  same  manner  as  officers  of 
the  line  of  the  army. 

Resolved,  That  the  pay  and  establishment  of  the 
officers  of  the  hospital  department,  and  medical 
staff,  be  as  follows: 

Director,  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  per  month, 
two  rations  for  himself,  and  one  for  his  servant,  per 
day,  and  forage  for  two  horses: 

Chief  physicians  and  surgeons  of  the  army  and 
hospitals,  each,  one  hundred  and  forty  dollars  per 
month,  two  rations  per  day,  and  forage  for  two 
horses : 

Purveyor  and  apothecary,  each,  one  hundred  and 
thirty  dollars  per  month: 

Physicians  and  surgeons  of  the  hospitals,  each, 
one  hundred  and  twenty  dollars  per  month,  one  ra- 
tion per  day,  and  forage  for  one  horse: 

Assistant  purveyors  and  apothecaries,  each,  sev- 
enty-five dollars  per  month: 

150 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

Regimental  surgeons,  each,  sfxty-five  dollars  per 
month,  one  ration  per  day,  and  forage  for  one  horse: 

Surgeons'  mates  in  the  hospitals,  fifty  dollars  per 
month,  one  ration  per  day: 

Surgeons'  mates  in  the  army,  forty-five  dollars 
per  month,  one  ration  per  day: 

Steward  for  each  hospital,  thirty-five  dollars  per 
month,  one  ration  per  day: 

Ward  master  for  each  hospital,  twenty-five  dol- 
lars per  month,  one  ration  per  day. 

Resolved,  That  none  of  the  aforesaid  officers,  or 
other  persons  employed  in  any  of  the  hospitals,  be 
entitled  to  rations  of  provisions  or  forage  when  on 
furlough. 

Resolved,  That  the  chief  physician  of  the  army  be 
allowed  a  two  horse  covered  wagon  for  transport- 
ing his  baggage: 

That  the  several  officers  above  mentioned  shall  re- 
ceive their  pay  in  the  new  currency,  emitted  pursu- 
ant to  a  resolution  of  Congress  of  the  i8th  day  of 
March  last;  and  that  they  be  allowed  and  paid  at 
the  rate  of  five  dollars  of  said  currency  per  month 
for  every  retained  ration;  and  shall  each  be  entitled 
annually  to  draw  cloathing  from  the  stores  of  the 
cloathier  general,  in  the  same  manner  and  under 
the  same  regulations  as  are  established  for  officers 
of  the  line,  by  a  resolution  of  Congress  of  the  25th 
November,  1779: 

That  the  returns  for  cloathing  for  officers  in  the 
medical  staff  (regimental  surgeons  and  their  mates, 
who  are  to  draw  with  the  regimental  staff,  excepted) 
be  signed  by  the  directors,  or  one  of  the  chief  hos- 
pital physicians;  and  such  cloathing  shall  be  deliv- 
ered either  by  the  cloathier  general  or  any  sub- 
cloathier  in  the  state  in  which  the  officer  to  receive 
cloathing  shall  reside,  in  the  same  manner  as  is  pro- 

151 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,   U.S.A. 

vided  in  the  cases  of  other  staff  officers  not  taken 
from  the  line: 

That  the  several  officers  wliose  pay  is  established 
as  above  (except  the  stewards  and  ward  masters) 
shall  at  the  end  of  the  war  be  entitled  to  a  certain 
provision  of  land,  in  the  proportion  following,  viz. 

The  director  to  have  the  same  quantity  as  a  briga- 
dier-general; 

Chief  physicians  and  purveyor,  the  same  as  a 
colonel ; 

Physicians  and  surgeons  and  apothecary,  the  same 
as  a  lieutenant  colonef; 

Regimental  surgeons  and  assistants  to  the  pur- 
veyor and  apothecary,  the  same  as  a  major; 

Hospital  and  regimental  surgeons'  mates,  the 
same  as  a  captain; 

That  the  former  arrangements  of  the  hospital  de- 
partment, and  all  resolutions  heretofore  passed 
touching  the  same,  so  far  as  they  are  inconsistent 
with  the  foregoing,  be  repealed,  excepting  that  the 
hospitals  in  the  southern  department,  from  North 
Carolina  to  Georgia,  inclusive,  be  continued  under 
the  same  regulations  as  heretofore,  until  the  further 
order  of  Congress.^^^ 

October  2,  1780.  889 

Congress  took  into  consideration  the  report  of 
the  Medical  Committee  on  the  letter,  of  24  Septem- 
ber, from  the  director  general,  together  with  the  re- 
turns of  the  officers  in  the  hospital  departm.ent;  and 
thereupon. 

The  Medical  Committee,  to  whom  the  Director 
General's  letter  of  the  24th  inst.  together  with  the 
Return  of  the  Officers  in  the  Hospital  Department 
was  referred,  beg  leave  to  report: 

That  they  have  conferred  with  the  Director  Gen- 

,***  Here  Charles  Thomson  resumes  the  entries. 

152 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

eral  and  other  ofTicers  of  the  Department,  and  have 

made  out  a  new  Return,  of  the  General  Officers,  the 
Senior  and  Junior  Surgeons,  together  with  the  Dates 
of  their  respective  Commissions,  which  they  submit 
to  Congress. 

Resolved,  That  on  Thursday  next  Congress  will 
proceed  to  the  election  of  the  director,  chief  physi- 
cians, purveyor-apothecary  and  their  respective  as- 
sistants, and  the  physicians  of  the  military  hospi- 
tals."'^ 

October  6,  1780.  908 

Congress  proceeded  to  the  election  of  officers  in 
the  hospital  department,  and  the  ballots  being  taken, 
Doctor  William  Shippen,  jr.  was  elected  director- 
general;  Doctor  John  Cochran,  chief  physician  and 
surgeon  of  the  army;  Doctor  James  Craik,  Doctor 
Malachi  Treat,  Doctor  Charles  M'Knight,  chief  hos- 
pital physicians. 

October  7,  1780.  909-10 

Congress  proceeded  in  the  election  of  officers  in 
the  hospital  department,  and  the  ballots  being 
taken,  Thomas  Bond,  jun,  was  elected  purveyor; 
Isaac  Ledyard,  assistant  purveyor;  Doctor  Andrew 
Craigie,  apothecary;  William  Johonot,  assistant 
apothecary;  Doctors  James  Tilton,  Samuel  Adams, 
David  Townshend,  Henry  Latimer,  Francis  Hagan, 
Phihp  Turner,  William  Burnet,  John  Warren,  Moses 
Scott,  David  Jackson,  Bodo  Otto,  Moses  Bloom- 
field,  William  Eustis,  George  Draper,  Barnabas  Bin- 
ney,  hospital  physicians  and  surgeons. 

On  motion  of  the  medical  committee. 

Resolved,  That  Doctor  Matthew  Maus  be  ap- 
pointed surgeon  to  the  regiment  of  invalids  com- 

^^^  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
22,  folio  27. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,   U.S.A. 

manded  by  Colonel  L.  Nicola,  and  that  Colonel 
Nicola  be  authorised  to  appoint  a  proper  surgeon's 
mate  to  the  said  regiment,  when  the  number  of  sick 
shall  make  it  necessary. 

October  17,  1780.  935 
On  motion  of  the  Medical  Committee, 
Ordered,  That  Doctor  Isaac  Forster  and  Doctor 
Jonathan  Potts  deliver  all  pubHc  stores  in  their  pos- 
session to  Doctor  Thomas  Bond,  purveyor  of  the 
hospitals,  or  his  order,  taking  duplicate  receipts  for 
the  same,  and  transmitting  one  of  each  to  the  Board 
of  Treasury. 

October  21,  1780.  962 

A  letter,  of  4,  from  W.  Rickman,  was  read;  Where- 
upon,"^ 

Ordered,  That  Dr.  Rickman  be  informed,  that 
pursuant  to  his  former  request,  he  is  left  out  in  the 
new  arrangement  of  the  hospital  department. 

October  30,  1780.  992 

That  as  Major  General  Greene  has  expressed  an 
earnest  desire  to  have  Doctor  James  McHenry  as 
an  aid  de  camp  upon  the  southern  command,  the 
said  Major  General  Greene  be  authorised  to  employ 
the  said  Doctor  James  McHenry  as  one  of  his  aids, 
on  his  command  in  the  southern  department;  and 
that  the  said  Doctor  McHenry  while  so  employed 
be  intitled  to  the  rank  of  major  by  brevet, 

November  i,  1780.  1002 

The  Medical  Committee  delivered  in  a  report; 
Whereupon, 

The  Medical  Committee  beg  leave  to  Report — 

^1^  This  letter  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
78.  XIX.  folio  319. 

154 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

That  they  have  had  under  consideration  an  esti- 
mate of  Hospital  Stores,  laid  before  them  by  the 
Purveyor  by  order  of  the  Director  of  the  Hospital : 
of  which  estimate,  such  parts  as  are  approved  of  by 
the  Committee,  and  in  their  opinion  necessary  to 
be  procured  they  now  lay  before  Congress,  amount- 
ing by  estimation  to  4276  2/3  dollars  in  specie: 
Whereupon  they  offer  the  following  Resolution. 

Ordered,  That  the  sum  of  four  thousand  two  hun- 
dred and  seventy  six  dollars  and  sixty  ninetieths  of 
a  dollar,  in  bills  emitted  pursuant  to  the  resolution 
of  the  1 8th  of  March  last,  be  advanced  to  Thomas 
Bond,  purveyor  of  the  general  hospital,  to  enable 
him  to  purchase  the  stores  mentioned  in  an  esti- 
mate approved  by  the  Medical  Committee;  and  that 
the  Board  of  Treasury  report  a  draught  or  draughts 
for  that  purpose."* 

November  6,  1780.  1024 

Ordered,  That  a  warrant  issue  on  Joseph  Borden, 
commissioner  of  the  continental  loan  office  in  the 
State  of  New  Jersey,  in  favour  of  Thomas  Bond, 
purveyor  of  the  general  hospital,  for  four  thousand 
two  hundred  and  seventy  six  dollars  and  60/90,  in 
bills  of  credit  emitted  pursuant  to  the  act  of  Con- 
gress of  the  18  of  March  last;  for  which  sum  the 
said  Thomas  Bond  is  to  be  accountable. 

November  13,  1780.  1049 

A  letter,  of  5,  from  Doctor  James  Tilton  was  read. 
A  letter  from  Doctor  James  Fallon  was  laid  be- 
fore Congress:  "^ 

Ordered,  To  lie  on  the  table. 

^^^  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Abraham  Clark,  is  in  the  Pa- 
pers of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  22,  folio  29. 

"*  Letter  of  Fallon,  dated  November  3,  1780,  is  in  the  Papers 
of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  78,  IX,  folio  347. 

155 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT     U..S,A. 

November  17,  1780.  1066 

The  Board  further  report, 

That  they  have  considered  the  letter  from  Doc- 
tor Wilham  Rickman  of  the  4th  of  October  last  (re- 
ferred to  them  by  Congress)  and  are  of  opinion, 

That  the  medical  committee  only  are  competent 
to  determine  the  expediency  of  accepting  the  resig- 
nation of  Doctor  Rickman.  No  account  is  open  in 
the  pubhc  books  against  Doctor  Rickman,  but  Ben- 
jamin Harrison  Dep^  Pay  Master  General  in  the 
Southern  department  has  advanced  considerable 
sums  of  money,  for  the  use  of  the  Hospitals,  and 
that  until  the  said  Dep^  Pay  Master  General  ren- 
ders his  accounts,  no  account  with  Doctor  Rickman 
can  be  settled  at  the  Treasury.^^^ 

November  24,  1780.  1 090-1 

The  Medical  Committee  laid  before  Congress  a 
letter,  of  21,  from  Doctor  Shippen,  director  [general], 
which  was  read;  Whereupon, 

[A  motion  was  made  by  Mr.  Duane,  seconded  by] 
Ordered,  That  Doctor  Shippen,  director  of  the  hos- 
pitals,  [be  directed  to]  repair  to  head  quarters  and 
put  himself  under  the  orders  of  the  Commander  in 
Chief."^ 

November  27,  1780.  1095 

A  letter,  of  this  day,  from  Doctor  Shippen. ^^^ 

December  4,  1780.  1118 

A  letter,  of  30  November,  from  B.  Binney,  hos- 
pital surgeon;  and 

*^®  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
136,  IV,  folio  713a. 

^"  This  motion,  in  the  writing  of  James  Duane,  is  in  the  Papers 
of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  36,  IV,  folio  499. 

^^^  Shippen's  letter  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
No.  78,  XX,  folio  575. 

156 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

One,  of  this  day,  from  M.  Maus,  surgeon  of  the 
invalid  regiment,  were  read:  ^^^ 

December  5,  1780.  11 20 

A  letter,  of  4,  from  D(avid)  Jackson,  hospital  sur- 
geon, was  read,  requesting  leave  to  resign: 
Ordered,  That  leave  be  granted. 

December  6,  1780.  11 25-6 

The  Medical  Committee,  to  whom  were  referred 
the  letters  from  Doctor  Binney  and  Doctor  Maus, 
delivered  in  a  report: 

The  Medical  Committee  to  whom  was  committed 
the  letters  from  B.  Binney  and  M.  Maus  beg  leave 
to  report — 

That  on  the  21st  day  of  July  last  a  warrant  issue 
on  the  Treasury  in  favor  of  Dr.  Jonathan  Potts, 
Purveyor  of  the  Hospital  for  200,000  dollars  for  pro- 
curing Hospital  Stores,  and  paying  the  Physicians 
and  surgeons  in  that  Department,  a  part  only  of 
which  Warrant,  owing  to  a  deficiency  of  money  in 
the  Treasury,  hath  been  received — 

That  on  the  6th  November  last  a  warrant  issued 
on  the  Continental  Loan  Officer  of  the  State  of  New 
Jersey  in  favor  of  Thomas  Bond  Jr.  the  present 
Purveyor  for  a  certain  sum  of  money  for  procuring 
supplies  necessary  for  the  hospital,  no  part  of  which 
the  Purveyor  informs  the  Committee  he  hath  been 
able  to  receive.  That  on  account  of  the  failures  in 
obtaining  money,  the  sick  are  in  a  suffering  condi- 
tion; the  physicians  unable  to  proceed  to  their  re- 
spective charges,  and  the  business  of  the  Depart- 
ment greatly  impeeded  in  every  part. 

'1^  Binney 's  letter  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress' 
No.  78,  IV,  folio  97. 

157 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,   U.S.A. 

That  in  order  to  procure  supplies  immediately 
wanted  for  the  relief  of  the  sick  and  to  enable  the 
Physicians  to  perform  their  duty,  it  is  necessary  to 
furnish  the  Purveyor  with  a  sum  of  money.  That  it 
be  referred  to  the  Treasury  to  report  a  Warrant 
without  delay  that  will  insure  a  speedy  supply.^^*^ 

Decembers,  1780.  11 28 

That  a  warrant  issue  on  Thomas  Smith,  commis- 
sioner of  the  continental  loan  office  for  the  State  of 
Pensylvania,  in  favour  of  Thomas  Bond,  Junior, 
purveyor  of  the  hospitals,  on  the  recommendation 
of  the  Medical  Committee,  for  fifteen  thousand  dol- 
lars, to  be  paid  out  of  the  proceeds  of  a  bill  of  ex- 
change for  two  hundred  dollars,  part  of  those  here- 
tofore ordered  to  be  drawn  on  the  honorable  Benja- 
min Franklin,  minister  plenipotentiary  of  the  United 
States  at  the  Court  of  Versailles,  at  ninety  days' 
sight,  to  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  commissioner 
aforesaid,  by  order  of  the  Board  of  Treasury,  to  en- 
able the  said  purveyor  to  make  provision  for  some 
sick  soldiers  in  immediate  want  in  the  barracks  in 
this  city;  for  which  sum  the  said  Thomas  Bond  is  to 
be  accountable. ^^^ 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Board  of 
Treasury,  and  that  they  report  without  delay,  a 
warrant  that  will  ensure  a  speedy  supply  of  neces- 
saries wanted  for  the  sick  and  enable  the  physicians 
to  perform  their  duty. 

120  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Abraham  Clark,  is  in  the  Pa- 
pers of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  22,  folio  31. 

^^*  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
136,  IV,  folio  745. 

158 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

December  9,  1780.  11 32 

On  motion  of  Mr.  (Theodorlck)  Bland,  a  member 
of  the  Medical  Committee, 

Ordered,  That  the  purveyor  and  apothecary  be 
directed  to  issue  medicines  and  refreshments  neces- 
sary for  the  transient  sick  which  may  be,  from  time 
to  time,  under  the  care  of  Doctor  Maus,  as  is  done 
in  the  general  hospital,  he  making  returns  of  such 
sick  in  the  manner  directed  in  the  hospital  regula- 
tions to  the  director,  and  signing  receipts  for  such 
stores  as  are  issued  to  him. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Maus  report  to  the  com- 
manding officer  at  the  barracks  such  officers  as  are 
appointed  to  act  under  him  as  surgeon  to  the  tran- 
sient sick,  in  case  of  misdemeanor,  in  order  that 
they  be  tried  for  misconduct  or  neglect  of  duty  by 
a  garrison  court  martial. '^^ 

December  13,  1780.  11 49 

A  letter,  of  6,  from  Doctor  Bloomfield  and  Doc- 
tor Scott,  two  hospital  physicians,  was  read,  enclos- 
ing their  commissions,  and  desiring  that  their  resig- 
nations be  accepted. ^"^ 

Ordered,  That  their  resignations  be  accepted. 

December  26,  1780.  11 94 

A  letter,  of  7,  from  John  Warren  was  read,  signi- 
fying his  acceptance  of  the  office  of  hospital  physi- 
cian. 

^^^  This  motion,  in  the  writing  of  Theodorick  Bland,  is  in  the 
Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  36,  IV,  folio  435. 

12'  This  letter  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
78,  IV,  folio  53. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 
EXPENDITURES  FOR  THE  YEAR    1 780^^^ 

Hospital  Department.  Page  143.  260.  562. 
589.  648.  Jonathan  Potts,  purveyor  gen- 
eral, &c.  accountable: 376,900 

Page  330.  Isaac  Forster,  deputy  direc- 
tor general  hospitals,  eastern  department, 

accountable: 40,000 

Page  1128 15,000 

And  Page  1024,  in  new  emission,  4,276 
dollars.  Thomas  Bond,  jun.  purveyor  gen- 
eral, &c.  accountable: 

Total  431,900 

standjng  committees^^^ 

Medical 

4  May,  1780.  James  Henry 

7  July,  1780.  Abraham    Clark    in    place    of 

Henry 
9  September,  1780.  Theodorick   Bland   in  place  of 

Holten 
23  October,      1780.  Isaac  Motte 
January  3,  1781.  15 

A  letter,  of  this  day,  from  Doctor  William  Ship- 
pen,  director  general  of  the  hospital,  was  read,  re- 
questing leave  to  resign:  ^^^ 

Ordered,  That  his  resignation  be  accepted. 

^^*  This  Appendix  appears  only  in  the  first  edition  of  the  Jour- 
nals, Vol.  VI.  (Claypoole  imprint:  See  Bibliographical  Notes  No. 
353.)  The  paging  has  been  altered  to  correspond  with  the  pages 
of  the  present  edition. 

^^  See  pages  1445-1447  of  Vol.  XV.  I  now  give  such  appoint- 
ments only  as  were  made  in  1780. 

**®  This  letter  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
78,  XXI,  folio  1. 

i6o 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

Two  papers,  signed  Patrick  Garvey,  were  laid  be- 
fore Congress  and  read: 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  referred  to  the  Medi- 
cal Committee. 

January  4,  1781.  20 

.  .  .  .  A  letter,  of  November  29,  from  Doctor 
Forster  to  the  Medical  Committee,  were  read:^^^ 

January  ii,  1781.  47-8 

Resolved,  That  Monday  next  be  assigned  for  elect- 
ing a  director  [general]  of  the  hospital,  and  a  paymas- 
ter general  to  the  army. 

Doctor  J.  Cochran  was  nominated  by  Mr.  (James 
Mitchell)  Varnum  for  the  office  of  director  [general]; 

Doctor  Brown,  by  Mr.  (Joseph)  Montgomery; 

Dr.  Craig,  by  Mr.  (Abraham)  Clark. 

January  13,  1 781.  56 

Doctor  J.  Morgan  was  nominated  by  Mr.  (George) 
Walton,  for  the  office  of  director  of  tlie  hospitals. 

January  17,  1781.  6$,  68 

Congress  proceeded  to  the  election  of  a  director 
of  the  military  hospital;  and  the  ballots  being  taken. 
Dr.  John  Cochran  was  elected,  haying  been  previ- 
ously nominated  by  Mr.  (James  Mitchell)  Varnum. 

Congress  took  into  consideration  the  report  of 
the  committee  on  tlie  letter  of  5  of  November  last, 
from  General  Washington,  enclosing  a  memorial 
from  the  officers  in  the  hospital  department;  and, 
thereupon,  came  to  the  following  resolutions: 

Whereas,  by  the  plan  for  conducting  the  hospital 
department,  passed  in  Congress  the  30th  day  of 
September  last,  no  proper  establishment  is  provided 
for  the  officers  of  the  medical  staff,  after  their  dis- 

127  Forster's  letter  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress> 
No.  78,  IX,  folio  491. 

161 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

mission  from  public  service,  which,  considering  the 
custom  of  other  nations  and  the  late  provision  made 
for  the  officers  of  the  army,  after  the  conclusion  of 
the  war,  they  appear  to  have  a  just  claim  to;  for 
remedy  whereof,  and  also  for  amending  several  parts 
of  the  above  mentioned  plan: 

Resolved,  That  all  officers  in  the  hospital  depart- 
ment, and  medical  staff,  hereinafter  mentioned,  who 
shall  continue  in  service  to  the  end  of  the  war,  or 
be  reduced  before  that  time  as  supernumeraries, 
shall  be  entitled  to,  and  receive,  during  life,  in  lieu 
of  half-pay,  the  following  allowance,  viz. 

The  director  of  the  hospital  equal  to  the  half-pay 
of  a  lieutenant  colonel: 

Chief  physicians  and  surgeons  of  the  army  and 
hospitals,  [each  equal  to  the  half-pay  of  major]  and 
hospital  physicians  and  surgeons,  purveyor,  apothe- 
cary, and  regimental  surgeons,  each  equal  to  the 
half-pay  of  a  [lieutenant]  captain:  [and  regimental 
mates  each  equal  to  the  half-pay  of  a]  lieutenant. 

That  there  be  allowed  to  the  purveyor,  apothe- 
cary, and  assistant  purveyors,  each,  forage  for  one 
horse : 

That  the  power  given  in  the  before-mentioned 
plan,  to  the  chief  physician  and  surgeon  of  the  army, 
to  remove  regimental  surgeons  and  mates  in  case  of 
absence  without  leave,  shall  in  future  extend  no  fur- 
ther than  a  power  of  suspension,  until  such  delin- 
quent shall  be  reported  to  a  proper  officer  for  bring- 
ing him  to  trial  by  court  martial: 

That  the  apothecary  may  deliver  medicines,  in- 
struments and  dressings,  and  other  articles  of  his 
department,  to  the  hospitals,  on  orders  in  writing 
from  a  physician  and  surgeon  having  the  care  of 
any  particular  hospital,  where  the  director  or  one 

162 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

of  the  chief  physicians  and  surgeons  shall  not  be 
present  to  give  the  same: 

That  the  power  given  to  the  director  and  chief 
hospital  physicians,  with  respect  to  the  appoint- 
ment of  matrons,  nurses,  and  other  persons  neces- 
sary for  the  regular  management  of  the  hospitals,  be 
extended  to  each  of  the  physicians  and  surgeons  of 
the  hospitals,  in  the  absence  of  the  director  and  chief 
physicians  and  surgeons. 

[That  notwithstanding  the  prohibition  against  offi- 
cers of  the  hospitals  using  any  of  the  Stores  provided 
for  the  sick,  the  said  officers  may  occasionally  draw 
out  of  the  hospital  Stores  under  their  particular  di- 
rection by  written  orders  on  the  Stewards  of  the 
same,  such  small  articles  for  their  comfortable  sub- 
Nesaitved  sistence  as  they  may  stand  in  need  of, 
provided  such  articles  are  not  imme- 
diately wanted  for  the  use  of  the  sick:  of  which  arti- 
cles so  issued,  the  Stewards  shall  keep  regular  ac- 
counts, charging  each  officer  with  the  articles  drawn 
at  the  current  price  the  same  bears  at  that  time, 
which  shall  be  deducted  out  of  his  pay  in  the  settle- 
ment of  his  account,  copies  of  which  accounts,  each 
respective  Steward,  under  obligation  of  his  oath  of 
Office,  shall  transmit  every  six  months  to  the  Pur- 
veyor, Which  being  charged  in  a  general  account  by 
him,  shall  be  lodged  in  the  Treasury  Office — 

That  the  Director,  Chief  Physicians  of  the  army 
and  hospitals,  and  other  Physicians  and  officers  in 
the  hospital  department,  as  well  those  lately  dis- 
missed from  service,  as  those  re-appointed  in  the 
last  arrangement  who  were  in  office  between  the  first 
day  of  Sept.  1777,  and  the  30th  day  of  September 
last,  shall  have  the  depreciation  of  money  made 
good  to  them  on  their  pay  for  such  part  of  the  above 

163 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

mentioned  time  as  they  were  actually  employed  in 
public  service.]  ^^^ 

January  25,  1781.  86 

A  letter,  from  Doctor  Gould,  was  read: 
Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Medical  Com- 
mittee. 

February  i,  1781.  103-4 

A  letter,  of  31  January,  from  Doctor  Gould,  was 
read:  ^^ 

On  motion  of  the  medical  committee. 

Resolved,  That  the  purveyor  of  the  hospital  be, 
and  hereby  is  empowered  and  directed  to  collect,  or 
cause  to  be  collected  and  secured  under  care,  until 
properly  issued,  all  public  hospital  stores  and  medi- 
cines in  Virginia,  late  under  the  direction  of  Dr. 
Rickman,  or  others  acting  under  the  United  States, 
and  all  persons  in  possession  of  such  public  stores 
or  medicines,  are  hereby  required  to  deliver  the  same 
to  the  said  purveyor,  or  his  order,  upon  demand. 

[That  the  medical  committee  be  authorised  during 
the  absence  of  the  director  to  direct  a  number  of 
the  hospital  physicians  and  mates  to  repair  imme- 
diately to  Virginia  and  take  the  charge  of  the  hos- 
pitals in  that  state.]  ^^^ 

A  motion  was  made  by  Mr.  (Theodorick)  Bland, 
seconded  by  (Mr.  George)  Walton,  respecting  the 
hospitals  for  the  southern  army: 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Medical  Com- 
mittee. 

"'  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Abraham  Clark,  is  in  the  Pa- 
pers of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  19,  VI,  foHo  331. 

^^  This  letter  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
78,  X,  folio  285. 

""  This  motion,  in  the  writing  of  Abraham  Clark,  is  in  the  Pa- 
pers of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  36,  I,  folio  121. 

164 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

February  5,  1781.  115 

A  letter,  of  3,  from  Doctor  B.  Binney,  was  read:^^^ 

February  6,  1781.  118 

On  motion  of  Mr.  (Theodorick)  Bland, 
Resolved,  That  Thomas  Bond,  jun.  purveyor  to 
the  general  hospital,  be,  and  hereby  is,  authorised 
to  settle  the  accounts  for  salaries,  and  pay  the  offi- 
cers of  the  hospital  established  in  Virginia,  under 
the  direction  of  Dr.  Gould,  which  have  accrued 
since  the  new  arrangement  of  the  medical  depart- 
ment; and  that  Dr.  Wilham  Rickman,  late  deputy 
director,  settle  and  return  the  accounts  of  salaries 
due  the  officers  of  the  said  hospital,  prior  to  that 
date,  to  the  present  purveyor. 

February  8,  1781.  130 

A  letter,  of  7,  from  B.  Otto,  physician  and  sur- 
geon, was  read;  Whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  the  letter  of  Doctor  Otto  be  refer- 
red to  the  Board  of  War  to  take  measures  for  pre- 
venting any  interruption  being  given  to  the  hospi- 
tal at  the  yellow  springs,  the  same  being  provided 
solely  for  the  reception  of  proper  hospital  subjects. 

February  16,  1781.  155 

The  Medical  Committee  laid  before  Congress  a 
letter,  of  January  12,  from  Doctor  J.  Browne,  acting 
as  surgeon  general  in  the  southern  army,  which  was 
read : 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Medical  Com- 
mittee. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  (Wilfiam)  Burnett  be  added 
to  the  Medical  Committee. 

^'*  Binney's  letter  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
No.  78,  IV,  folio  93. 

165 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

February  19,  1781.  160 

A  letter,  of  3,  from  J.  Cochran,  was  read,  signify- 
ing his  acceptance  of  the  office  of  director  general  of 
the  hospital. ^^^ 

A  memorial  of  John  Bartlet  was  read:  ^^^ 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Medical  Com- 
mittee. 

February  22,  1781.  187 

A  letter,  from  Doctor  B.  Binney,  was  read:  "■* 
Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to   a  committee  of 
three. 

February  24,  1781.  191 

On  motion  of  the  Medical  Committee: 
Ordered,  That  a  warrant  issue  on  Thomas  Smith, 
commissioner  of  the  continental  loan  office  for  the 
State  of  Pensylvania,  in  favour  of  Doctor  Thomas 
Bond,  purveyor  of  the  hospital,  for  forty  thousand 
dollars  of  the  old  emissions,  to  be  applied  towards 
paying  the  officers  of  the  medical  department  in 
part  of  their  salaries  due  since  their  appointment 
under  the  present  arrangement,  for  which  sum  the 
said  purveyor  to  be  accountable. 

February  27,  1781.  199 

A  letter,  of  10,  from  James  Craik,  chief  hospital 
physician,  was  read: 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Medical  Com- 
mittee. 

March  3,  1781.  230 

The  report  of  the  committee  on  the  letter  of  the 

"^  This  letter  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
78,  VI,  folio  11. 

"3  Bartlett's  memorial  is  in  No.  19,  I,  folio  241. 

"*  This  letter,  dated  February  20,  1781,  is  in  the  Papers  of  the 
Continental  Congress,  No.  78,  IV,  folio  89. 

1 66 


James  Craik 
(1730- 1 8 14) 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

28th  February  from  Dr.  W.  Burnet,  was  taken  into 
consideration;  Whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  Dr.  James  Craik,  chief  hospital 
physician  and  surgeon,  be,  and  he  is  hereby  ap- 
pointed chief  physician  and  surgeon  of  the  army,  in 
the  room  of  Dr.  J.  Cochran,  elected  director  of  the 
hospital;  and  that  Monday  next  be  assigned  for 
electing  a  chief  hospital  physician  and  surgeon,  in 
the  room  of  Dr.  Craik,  removed  to  the  army.^^^ 

March  5,  1781.  233 

According  to  the  order  of  the  day.  Congress  pro- 
ceeded to  the  election  of  a  chief  physician  and  sur- 
geon of  the  hospital,  in  the  room  of  Dr.  Craik,  re- 
moved to  the  army;  and,  the  ballots  being  taken. 
Dr.  William  Burnet  was  elected,  having  been  pre- 
viously nominated  by  Mr.  (John)  Witherspoon. 

March  7,  1781.  237 

A  memorial  of  Francis  Hagan,  a  physician  and 
surgeon  in  the  hospital,  was  read;^^^ 

March  14,  1781.  259 

The  committee  on  Doctor  B.  Binney's  letter,  of 
20  February: 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  letter 
of  Doctor  B.  Binney  on  the  22d  Feby.  report.  That 
Doctor  Binney's  services  are  useful  and  necessary 
in  the  medical  department,  and  that  he  ought  to  be 
retained  in  that  department. 

That  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  Committee  Doctor 
Binney  should  immediately  repair  to  the  State  of 
Virginia,  according  to  the  order  he  hath  received 
from  the  Director  General  of  the  hospitals;  and  that 

^'^  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Abraham  Clark,  is  in  the 
Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  19,  I,  folio  473. 

"^  Hagan's  memorial  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
No.  41,  IV,  folio  173. 

167 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

an  order  issue  to  the  Treasury  to  furnish  on  account 
the  sum  of  forty  thousand  dollars  of  the  old  emis- 
sions of  Congress,  to  enable  him  to  bear  the  expences 
of  himself  and  two  Mates,  and  to  establish  and  fur- 
nish hospitals  in  the  said  State.^" 

March  i6,  1781.  273 

The  Medical  Committee  also  delivered  in  a  re- 
port for  arranging  the  hospital  for  the  southern 
army. 

'  The  Medical  Committee,  to  whom  was  referred 
the  memorial  of  Doctor  J.  Bartlet:  dehvered  in  their 
several  reports. 

March  19,  1781.  275-7 

The  report  of  the  Medical  Committee  on  the 
memorial  of  Dr.  John  Bartlett,  late  physician  and 
surgeon  general  of  the  army  in  the  northern  depart- 
ment, was  taken  into  consideration;  and  it  appear- 
ing. 

The  medical  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the 
memorial  of  Dr.  John  Bartlett  late  Physic"  and 
Surg°  Gen'  of  the  army  in  the  northern  department, 
beg  leave  to  lay  before  Congress  the  following  State 
of  Facts  respecting  the  memorialist. 

That  on  the  nth  of  April  1777  he  was  appointed 
Physic"  and  Surg"  Gen'  to  the  army  in  the  northern 
department,  to  which  he  repaired  some  time  in  July 
following  and  with  which  he  continued  until  the  23d 
of  October  following  when  he  was  permitted  by  Gen' 
Gates  to  return  home  on  account  of  his  inability  to 
perform  the  duties  of  the  office  by  reason  of  the  in- 
firmities of  age  and  more  especially  on  account  of 
an  accidental  injury  received  in  his  arm.  That  it 
appears  to  your  committee  that  at  the  time  Dr. 

"^  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Meriwether  Smith,  is  in  the 
Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  19,  I,  folio  361.  It  is  in- 
dorsed: "Aug.  24,  1781,  not  to  be  acted  upon." 

i68 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

Bartlett  left  the  army  it  was  generally  understood 
that  he  had  no  design  of  returning  to  that  post,  he 
having  before  he  received  the  hurt  in  his  arm  de- 
clared repeatedly  to  the  other  officers  of  that  depart- 
ment that  he  was  too  old  and  infirm  to  perform  the 
duties  belonging  to  that  office  and  at  his  particular 
request  exchanged  with  Dr.  Thomas  Tillotson  an 
Hospital  Surgeon,  That  before  he  went  home  he  ob- 
tained a  certificate  from  Dr.  Potts  and  Dr.  Treat 
recommending  him  for  an  appointment  to  any  hos- 
pital that  might  be  established  near  his  own  home. 
Tliat  this  notwithstanding,  lie  repaired  to  the  army 
at  the  White  Plains  some  time  in  the  year  1778,  but 
was  not  considered  or  treated  as  Physician  and  Sur- 
geon General  nor  did  he  do  any  of  the  duties  of  that 
office,  Dr.  Tillotson  having  been  appointed  by  Gen' 
Gates  in  his  room  and  being  then  with  the  army  and 
doing  the  duties  of  that  office. 

That  on  the  first  of  July  1779  Dr.  Shippen  the 
late  Director  General  at  the  particular  request  of 
Dr.  Bartlett's  friends  directed  him  to  repair  to  Fish 
Kill  and  superintend  the  Hospital  at  that  place, 
where  he  accordingly  came  and  the  officers  of  that 
Hospital  refusing  to  do  ^duty  under  him  he  request- 
ed and  obtained  permission  from  Dr.  Shippen  on 
the  28th  September  1779  to  return  home, 

That  he  received  pay  for  the  time  he  was  with 
the  northern  army  in  1777  and  six  months  pay  be- 
sides after  he  went  home  and  also  that  he  received 
three  months  pay  for  the  time  he  was  at  Fish  Kill 
in  1779.  Since  which  time  your  Committee  cannot 
find  that  Dr.  Bartlett  hath  either  done  duty  or  re- 
ceived pay.  Upon  which  State  of  facts  your  Commit- 
tee beg  leave  to  report. 

That  Dr.  John  Bartlett,  at  his  own  request,  and 
with  the  consent  of  the  commanding  officer  of  the 

169 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

department,  and  the  deputy  director  and  other  offi- 
cers thereunto  belonging,  left  the  service  to  which 
he  was  appointed,  in  a  manner  which  clearly  indi- 
cated his  intention  of  relinquishing  his  office;  and 
having  received  pay  for  all  the  time  he  spent  with 
the  army,  and  six  months  while  he  was  at  home, 
cannot  be  entitled  to  any  farther  pay  or  allowance.^^* 

March  22,  1781.  292-4 

A  letter,  of  January  14,  from  Major  General 
Greene,  was  read,  with  sundry  papers  enclosed: 

Ordered,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Medical  Com- 
mittee. 

The  report  of  the  Medical  Committee,  delivered 
the  15,  was  taken  into  consideration,  and  it  was 
thereupon  resolved  as  follows: 

Whereas  the  late  regulations  for  conducting  the 
medical  department  and  mihtary  hospitals  passed 
the  30th  day  of  September  last,  and  amended  by 
several  subsequent  acts  of  Congress,  extends  no  far- 
ther southward  than  to  include  the  State  of  Virginia; 
and  whereas  the  present  operations  of  the  war  to 
the  southward,  make  it  necessary  that  the  hospital 
department,  in  that  district,  be  rendered  as  uni- 
form to  that  in  the  northern  army  as  circumstances 
will  permit,  that  no  inconveniences  may  arise  to  the 
army  in  general  from  different  and  opposite  sys- 
tems, as  its  operations  may  eventually  be  inter- 
changeable from  one  district  to  another  in  a  short 
space  of  time;  therefore. 

Resolved,  That  there  be  one  deputy  director  of 
the  military  hospitals,  [in  the  Southern  district  sub- 
ject to  the  general  control  of  the  director]  who  shall, 
in  the  absence  of  the  director,  have  the  general 
control  and  management  of  all  the  military  hospitals 

*'*  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  William  Burnet,  is  in  the  Pa- 
pers of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  19,  I,  folio  229. 

170 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

that  arc  or  may  be  established  [to  the  Southward  o^ 
Virginia]  under  the  orders  of  the  commander  of  the 
southern  army  for  the  time  being. 

When  the  foregoing  resolution  was  under  debate, 
a  motion  was  made  by  Mr.  (John)  Mathews,  second- 
ed by  Mr.  (Thomas)  Bee,  after  the  words  "the  di- 
rector," to  insert  "for  the  southern  army;"  and  on 
the  question,  shall  those  words  be  inserted?  the 
yeas  and  nays  being  required  by  Mr.  (Thomas) 
Bee, 

So  it  passed  in  the  negative. 

Resolved,  That  [within  the]  for  the  army  aforesaid, 
[district]  there  shall  be  one  chief  physician  of  the  hos- 
pital, who  shall  also  be  a  surgeon;  one  chief  physician 
to  the  said  army,  who  shall  also  be  a  surgeon;  two 
hospital  physicians,  who  shall  also  be  surgeons;  and 
four  surgeons'  mates  for  the  hospitals;  one  deputy 
purveyor  with  an  assistant,  one  deputy  apothecary 
with  an  assistant;  and  to  each  hospital,  a  steward, 
matron,  orderly  men  and  nurses  as  is  directed  in  the 
arrangement  of  the  [northern]  hospital,  passed  the  30 
day  of  September  aforesaid. 

That  the  deputy  director,  deputy  purveyor  and 
deputy  apothecary,  have  and  exercise  the  same 
powers  which  are  exercised  by  the  director,  pur- 
veyor and  apothecary  respectively,  agreeably  to  the 
arrangement  above-mentioned: 

That  the  pay  of  the  deputy  director  be  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  dollars  per  month,  that  of  the  deputy 
purveyor  and  deputy  apothecary,  each  one  hundred 
and  twenty  dollars  per  month;  and  they  shall  sever- 
ally be  entitled  to  the  same  emoluments,  and  sub- 
ject to  the  same  regulations  and  restrictions  as  their 
respective  principals  are  entitled  or  subjected  to  by 
the  above-mentioned  arrangement  and  the  amend- 
ments thereto: 

171 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

That  all  the  other  officers  of  the  hospital  and  med- 
ical staff  for  the  southern  [district]  army,  exercise  the 
same  powers,  perform  the  same  duties,  receive  the 
same  pay  and  emoluments,  and  be  subject  to  the 
regulations  and  restrictions  laid  down  in  the  afore- 
said arrangement  for  officers  of  like  description: 

Provided  nevertheless,  that  the  powers  therein 
directed  to  be  exercised  by  the  director,  and  any 
two  chief  physicians  and  surgeons  of  the  hospital, 
shall,  in  the  absence  of  the  deputy  director,  be  vest- 
ed in  and  exercised  by  the  next  officer  in  the  hospi- 
tal department  for  the  southern  army,  and  so  on  in 
succession,  in  conjunction  with  the  two  next 
seniors.^'^ 

March  27,  1781.  316 

The  United  States  in  Congress  assembled  pro- 
ceeded to  the  election  of  a  deputy  purveyor  of  the 
hospital  for  the  southern  army,  and,  the  ballots  be- 
ing taken  and  counted.  Dr.  Nathan  Brownson  was 
elected,  he  having  been  previously  nominated  by 
Mr.  (Samuel)  Adams. 

April  12,  1 78 1.  375 

On  motion  of  the  Medical  Committee: 

Ordered,  That  a  warrant  issue  on  Thomas  Smith, 
commissioner  of  the  continental  loan  office  for  the 
State  of  Pensylvania,  in  favour  of  Thomas  Bond, 
jun'',  purveyor  of  the  hospital,  for  thirty  thousand 
dollars  of  the  old  emissions,  twenty  thousand  dol- 
lars of  which  to  be  dehvered  to  Nathan  Brownson, 
deputy  purveyor,  to  be  applied  to  the  use  of  the 
hospitals  established  for  the  southern  army  and  the 
remaining  ten  thousand  to  be  applied  by  the  pur- 
veyor towards  the  paying  persons  necessarily  em- 
ployed in  the  general  hospital  northward  of  Virginia, 

*"  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Theodorick  Bland,  is  in  the 
Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  22,  folio  33. 

172 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

for  which  sum  of  thirty  thousand  dollars  the  pur- 
veyor to  be  accountable.^^'' 

April  13,  1 78 1.  388 

On  motion  of  the  Medical  Committee: 
Ordered,  That  a  warrant  issue  on  John  Hopkins, 
commissioner  of  the  continental  loan  office  for  the 
State  of  Virginia,  in  favor  of  Thomas  Bond,  Jun^, 
purveyor  of  the  hospital,  for  five  thousand  dollars 
of  the  new  emission,  to  be  by  him  put  into  the 
hands  of  Nathan  Brownson,  deputy  purveyor,  to 
pay  three  months'  salary  and  wages  due  to  the  ofii- 
cers  and  others  employed  in  the  hospital  established 
for  the  southern  army  and  to  procure  suppfies  for 
said  hospital,  for  which  sum  the  said  purveyor  is  to 
be  accountable. 
April  30,  1 78 1.  464 

A  memorial  of  sundry  officers  late  of  the  hospital 
staff"  was  read :  ^^^ 

Ordered,   That  it  be  referred  to  a  committee  of 
three : 

The  members,  Mr.  (James)  Duane,  Mr.  (Wilfiam 
Churchill)  Houston,  Mr.  (Isaac)  Motte. 
May  2,  1 78 1.  467 

Treasury  Office,  May  ist,  1781 
The  Board  of  Treasury  upon  the  petition  of  Lieu- 
tenant Andrew  Lee  of  Col.  Hazen's  regiment  refer- 
red to  them  27th  ultimo,  beg  leave  to  report  to  the 
United  States  in  Congress  Assembled,  That  for  the 
payment  of  the  said  L*.  Lee's  account  (inclosed  in 
the  said  petition)  of  expences  incurred,  from  the 
time  he  was  wounded  at  Springfield  New  Jersey  in 

""  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Abraham  Clark,  is  in  the  Pa- 
pers of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  22,  folio  37. 

"1  This  memorial,  dated  April  22,  1781,  is  in  the  Papers  of  the 
Continental  Congress,  No.  41,  VII,  folio  292. 

173 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,   U.S.A. 

June  1780  to  the  3rd  of  January  1781  to  the  amount 
of  3820  dollars  old  emissions,  a  warrant  issue  on 
Thomas  Smith  Esq.  Commissioner  of  the  Continen- 
tal Loan  Office  for  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  in 
favour  of  Dr.  Thomas  Bond  purveyor  of  the  Gen- 
eral Hospital  for  3820  dollars  of  the  old  emissions  to 
enable  him  to  pay  the  account  of  the  said  lieut*.  Lee, 
for  which  sum  the  said  Dr.  Thos.  Bond  is  to  be  ac- 
countable.^^^ 

Ordered,  That  a  warrant  issue  on  Thomas  Smith, 
commissioner  aforesaid,  in  favour  of  Thomas  Bond, 
purveyor  of  the  general  hospital,  for  fifty  dollars  and 
eighty-four  ninetieths  of  a  dollar  of  the  new  emis- 
sion, to  enable  him  to  discharge  the  account  of  Lieu- 
tenant Lee  for  expences  incurred  from  the  time  he 
was  wounded  at  Springfield,  New  Jersey,  in  June, 
1780,  to  the  3  January,  1781,  for  which  sum  the 
said  Thomas  Bond,  purveyor,  is  to  be  accountable. 

May  4,  1 78 1.  475 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  (John)  Witherspoon  be  added 
to  the  committee  on  the  memorial  of  sundry  officers 
late  of  the  hospital  staff"; 

May  23,  1 78 1.  529 

The  report  from  the  Medical  Committee  was  read; 
Whereupon, 

The  Medical  Committee  report. 

That  the  Purveyor  has  certified  to  them  that 
there  is  due  to  Dr.  Peter  Fayssoux  for  his  pay  as 
Physician  and  Surgeon  General  of  the  Hospitals  in 
the  Southern  Department,  a  balance  of  2599  dollars 
therefore  submit  the  following  resolve: 

Ordered,  That  a  warrant  issue  in  favour  of  Thomas 
Bond,  purveyor  of  the  hospitals,  for  one  thousand 

"*  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No* 
136,  V,  folio  289. 

174 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

dollars  of  the  new  emission  to  be  by  him  paid  to 
Doctor  Peter  Fayssoux  in  part  of  his  arrearages  of 
pay,  to  enable  the  said  Doctor  P.  Fayssoux  to  re- 
pair to  the  southern  army  [to  take  charge  of  the 
hospital]. ^^^ 

May  25,  1 78 1.  534 

That  so  much  of  the  letter,  of  25,  from  J.  Coch- 
ran, director  general,  as  respects  the  Iiospital  sur- 
geons, stores  and  farther  appointments,  be  referred 
to  the  Medical  Committee; 

That  such  parts  of  the  same  as  respects  deprecia- 
tion and  the  pay  of  surgeons  be  referred  to  the 
Board  of  War;  and 

That  such  parts  of  the  same  as  respects  the  post- 
age of  letters  to  and  from  surgeons  be  referred  to 
the  committee  on  the  Post  Office; 

That  the  resignation  of  Doctor  Hagan  be  accept- 
ed; "^ 

May  25,  1781.  541 

Resolved,  That  Dr.  James  McHenry  receive  the 
commission  of  major  in  the  army  of  the  United 
States,  to  take  rank  from  the  30th  of  October  last: 

May  26,  1 78 1.  544 

The  Medical  Committee;  delivered  in  their  re- 
spective reports. 

The  Medical  Committee  report  that  from  a  Cer- 
tified account  of  Joseph  Eaker,  Surgeon's  Mate, 
under  the  hands  of  Doctor  WiUiam  Shippen,  late 
Director  General  and  Thomas  Bond  Purveyor,  and 
a  letter  from  the  said  Joseph  Eaker,  referred  to 
them,  it  appears  to  your  Committee  that  the  said 

"^  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Theodorick  Bland,  is  in  the 
Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  19,  II,  folio  267. 

"^  Copies  of  extracts  from  Cochran's  letter  are  in  the  Papers  of 
the  Continental  Congress,  No.  78,  VI,  folios  33-35. 

175 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

Eaker  has  been  lately  released  from  captivity  where 
he  had  remained  for  seven  months,  that  he  is  in 
much  distress,  and  that  there  is  due  to  him  the  said 
Eaker  on  account  of  pay  and  rations  £444-  13s-  3d 
— Your  Committee  therefore  report,  that  a  warrant 
issue  in  favour  of  D^  Tho^  Bond,  Purveyor  of  Gen- 
eral Hospital  for  a  sum  equal  to  £444-  13s-  3d  to  be 
paid  to  Joseph  Eaker  late  Surgeons  Mate  to  the 
Hospital  on  discharge  of  the  pay  and  rations  due 
the  said  Eaker  as  appears  by  the  aforesaid  Certified 
acct.i''^ 

May  28,  1 78 1.  570 

Ordered,  That  the  Medical  Committee  be  discon- 
tinued, and  that  the  Committee  lodge  with  the 
Board  of  War  all  the  returns  and  papers  in  their  pos- 
session, and  then  be  discharged;  and  that  the  busi- 
ness heretofore  entrusted  to  them,  and  the  powers 
with  which  they  were  invested,  be  transferred  to  the 
Board. 

July  II,  1 78 1.  624-5 

A  report  from  the  Board  of  War,  on  the  letter  from 
the  director  (of  the  hospitals,  was  read;  Whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  the  sum  of  eight  thousand  five 
hundred  and  forty  five  dollars  and  one-third  of  a 
dollar  in  specie  or  [Bills  of  the  new  Emissions] 
other  money  equivalent,  be  immediately  put  into 
the  hands  of  the  purveyor  of  the  military  hospitals 
in  part  of  the  estimate  laid  before  Congress  by  the 
medical  committee,  to  enable  him  to  purchase  an 
immediate  supply  for  the  use  of  the  sick,  and  to 
prepare  for  the  immediate  exigencies  of  the  cam- 
paign in  the  hospital  department: 

That  the  sum  of  sixteen  thousand  one  hundred 

"^  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Theodorick  Bland,  is  in  the 
Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  19,  II,  folio  191. 

176 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

and  sixteen  dollars,  in  specie  or  [Bills  of  the  new 
Emissions]  other  money  equivalent,  be  advanced  to 
the  said  purveyor,  for  three  months'  pay,  to  be 
paid  by  him  on  account  to  the  officers  of  the 
medical  department: 

That  a  warrant  be  drawn  on  the  treasurer  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  for  six  thousand  dollars,  and 
another  warrant  on  the  treasurer  of  Virginia  for  four 
thousand  dollars,  in  specie  or  [Bills  of  the  new  Emis- 
sions] other  money  equivalent,  in  part  of  the  above 
sum  of  sixteen  thousand  one  hundred  and  sixteen  dol- 
lars, in  favour  of  the  said  purveyor  or  his  order;  and 
that  the  residue,  viz.  six  thousand  one  hundred  and 
sixteen  dollars  be  paid  him  at  Philadelphia,  in  specie 
or  [Bills  of  the  new  Emissions]  other  money  equiv- 
alent: 

That  four  thousand  two  hundred  dollars,  in  specie 
or  [Bills  of  the  new  Emissions]  other  money  equiva- 
lent, be  paid  to  the  said  purveyor,  to  be  put  into 
the  hands  of  stewards  at  established  hospitals,  to 
purchase  milLc  and  vegetables  and  discharge  small 
incidental  charges  at  fixed  hospitals)  .^'*^ 

That  the  Treasury  Board  be  and  they  are  hereby 
p        d  directed  to  devise  ways  and  means  for  supply- 

°^  P  ing  the  foregoing  sums  of  eight  thousand  five 
hundred  and  forty  five  and  one  third,  six  thousand 
one  hundred  and  sixteen,  and  four  thousand  two 
hundred  dollars. 

That  all  vacancies  of  regimental  Surgeons  and 
Mates  in  any  regiments  of  the  several  State  Lines 
be  filled  up  by  the  respective  States  in  whose  Lines 
the  vacancies  shall-  happen  in  the  same  manner  with 
vacancies  happening  in  the  Line  of  the  State. 

That  all  vacancies  of  regimental  Surgeons  and 

"®  The  portion  in  parentheses  was  entered  in  the  Joxirnal  by 
George  Bond, 

177 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

Mates  happening  in  regiments  or  Corps  not  belong- 
ing to  the  Line  of  any  State  be  filled  up  by  the  Di- 
rector or  Deputy  Director  of  the  Hospitals  with  the 
Army  in  which  such  regiments  or  Corps  shall  serve 
the  said  Director  or  Deputy  Director  reporting  the 
same  to  the  Commander  in  Chief  or  commanding 
General  of  a  separate  Army  that  information  there- 
of may  be  given  to  the  Board  of  War  who  shall 
fill  up  Commissions  accordingly. 

The  filling  up  the  vacancies  in  the  Medical  De- 
partment we  leave  to  the  wisdom  of  Congress  with 
this  observation  that  the  Director  represents  to  us 
that  this  measure  is  necessary.^'*^ 

June  1 8,  1 78 1.  668 

Ordered,  That  the  Board  of  War  report  a  plan  of 
succession  to  vacancies  in  the  hospital  and  medical 
lines  of  the  army. 

June  22,  1 78 1.  690 

The  Committee  of  the  Week  report, 

That  the  memorial  of  G.  Glentworth,  Wm  Srnith 
and  James  Fallon,  supernumerary  senior  physicians 
and  surgeons  of  the  general  hospital  for  themselves 
and  in  behalf  of  other  supernumeraries  praying 
"That  Congress  will  please  to  grant  them,  in  com- 
mon with  supernumerary  judges  advocate,  regimen- 
tal surgeons  and  chaplains,  their  depreciation  and 

half  pay"  ought  to  be  referred  to  a  special  Commit- 
tee.148 

July  3,  1781.  718 

The  committee  of  the  week  made  report;  Where- 
upon, 

"'  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
147,  V,  folio  273.  It  is  indorsed:  "August  23,  1781,  not  to  be 
acted  upon." 

^^  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Thomas  Rodney,  is  in  the  Pa- 
pers of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  32,  foUo  177. 

178 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

Ordered,  That  a  letter  of  tliis  day  from  Doctor 
James  Tilton  be  referred  to  the  Board  of  Treasury 
to  take  order  thereon  to  settle  depreciation  and 
grant  a  certificate  as  prayed;  ^*^ 

July  17,  1 78 1.  756 

A  report  from  the  Board  of  War  was  read;  Where- 
upon, 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  War  be  authorised  to 
draw  on  the  paymaster  general  in  favour  of  Captain 
Patrick  Cams  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Lee's  legion, 
for  t\yo  hundred  and  ten  dollars  in  bills  of  the  new 
emission;  ^^^  and  of  Doctor  Morris,  surgeon  of  Colo- 
nel Armand's  legion,  for  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  dollars  in  bills  aforesaid  in  part  of  their  pay,  and 
for  which  sums  they  are  respectively  to  be  account- 
able.151 

July  24,  1 78 1.  785 

A  report  from  the  Board  of  War  was  read;  Where- 
upon, 

War  Office,  July  24,  1781 
Sir, 

Robert  Henry,  Surgeon  of  the  2nd  New  Hamp- 
shire Regiment  hath  represented  to  the  Board,  that 
he  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  enemy  (at  the  time 
Col.  Greene  was  killed)  and  stripped  of  all  his  cloth- 
ing. He  hath  since  obtained  his  parole,  for  a  limited 
time  to  procure  some  necessaries.  He  further  repre- 
sents that  he  hath  received  but  two  months'  pay  in 
twenty,  that  before  he  belonged  to  this  regiment  he 
was  mate  in  the  General  Hospital,  and  there  ap. 

"^  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Samuel  Liver  more,  is  in  the 
Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  32,  folio  185. 

1^"  This  clause  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No . 
148,  II,  folio  49. 

^^1  This  clause  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
148,  II,  folio  55. 

179 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

pears  due  to  him  by  Doctor  Bond's  certificate  for 
that  service  £101.5.  specie,  which  sum  there  is  no 
provision  made  to  pay,  and  he  further  saith,  that 
he  is  at  this  time  destitute  of  cash.  Upon  consider- 
ing the  foregoing  representation,  the  Board  submit 
the  following  resolution: 

Ordered,  That  the  Board  of  War  draw  on  the  pay- 
master general  in  favour  of  Robert  Henry,  surgeon 
of  the  second  New  Hampshire  regiment  for  one 
hundred  and  ninety-five  dollars  of  the  new  emis- 
sions on  account  of  his  pay;  ^^^  and     

September  20,  1781.  979-81 

The  report  of  the  Board  of  War  respecting  the 
hospital  department  was  taken  into  consideration; 
and  Thereupon, 

At  a  Board  of  War  September  1 7th,  1 78 1 . 

Present  Mr.  Peters 
Mr.  Cornell 

The  Board  do  themselves  the  honor  to  report  to 
Congress  on  the  medical  department,  and  beg  leave 
to  observe  that  they  have  taken  every  measure  in 
their  power  to  procure  the  necessary  information  to 
enable  them  to  do  justice  to  the  United  States  as 
well  as  individuals. 

First.  For  settling  the  line  of  promotions  in  the 
medical  staff  they  have  obtained  a  plan  fixed  by  a 
Board  of  General  Officers  under  the  orders  of  the 
Commander  in  Chief  with  his  approbation,  Copies 
of  which  No.  I  and  2  are  enclosed,  the  plan  they  beg 
leave  to  recommend  to  be  established  by  Congress 
as  reported  by  the  General  Officers  for  a  rule  of  pro- 
motion in  the  medical  staff  in  future. 

Secondly.  In  consequence  of  General  Greene's  Re- 
quest for  assistance  in  the  Medical  Department, 

^^2  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
148,  II,  folio  85. 

180 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

they  have  consulted  the  Commander  in  Chief  on  the 
propriety  of  filling  up  the  vacancies  under  the  Di- 
rector General  and  requesting  him  to  send  the  neces- 
sary assistance  to  the  Southern  Army.  He  was  not 
able  to  determine  the  question,  but  on  his  arrival  at 
the  head  of  Elk  he  obtained  Dr.  Craik's  opinion  on 
that  subject  which  is  contained  in  the  enclosed  paper 
No.  3,  but  as  it  appears  from  the  tenor  of  Dr.  Coch- 
ran's letter  to  the  Board  (an  extract  of  which  is  en- 
closed in  No.  4)  that  he  entertains  different  senti- 
ments, the  Board  take  the  liberty  to  recommend  to 
Congress  that  appointments  be  made  agreeable  to 
Dr.  Cochran's  recommendation  contained  in  the  en- 
closed paper  No.  5  to  serve  with  the  main  army  and 
its  dependencies.  And  those  contained  in  Doctor 
Oliphant's  recommendation  contained  in  the  en- 
closed paper  No.  6,  to  be  appointed  for  the  Southern 
Army  under  the  Command  of  General  Greene. 

The  Board  are  the  more  induced  to  recommend 
the  appointment  of  those  Gentlemen  to  the  South- 
ward as  it  appears  to  them  absolutely  necessary 
they  should  be  with  the  army  immediately  and 
could  they  possibly  be  spared  from  their  quarter  a 
considerable  sum  of  money  must  be  advanced  to 
defray  their  travelling  Expences  which  it  is  to  be 
feared  would  cause  a  considerable  delay.^^^ 

Resolved,  That  the  present  vacancies  of  hospital 
physicians  and  surgeons  be  filled  up  by  the  senior 
surgeons  of  the  hospital  lately  deranged,  the  eldest 
hospital  mates  or  regimental  surgeons,  as  shall  be 
recommended  by  the  director  and  chief  physician 
and  surgeon  to  the  army: 

That  all  future  vacancies  of  hospital  physicians 
and  surgeons  be  filled  by  the  eldest  regimental  sur- 

^^^  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
148,  II,  folio  259. 

181 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

geons  and  hospital  mates,  who  shall  be  reckoned  of 
equal  grades,  who  shall  upon  examination  be  found 
qualified  and  obtain  a  certificate  of  recommendation 
from  the  director  and  chief  physician  and  surgeon 
of  the  army,  or  of  the  deputy-director  and  chief 
physician  in  a  separate  department: 

That  the  persons  requisite  to  fill  the  higher  grades 
in  the  hospital  and  medical  departments,  be  ap- 
pointed, from  time  to  time,  by  Congress,  according 
to  merit  and  abilities: 

[That  the  states  shall  nominate  regimental  surgeons 
to  the  regiments  of  their  respective  lines,  who  shall 
be  examined  by  the  director  and  chief  physician 
and  surgeon  to  the  army  and  one  of  the  chief 
hospital  physician  or  of  the  deputy  director  and  of 
the  chief  Physician  in  a  separate  department,  and 
upon  their  certificates  of  approbation  shall  receive 
the  appointment.] 

That  all  surgeons  to  regiments  or  corps  not  be- 
longing to  the  fine  of  any  particular  State,  be  nomi- 
nated by  the  director  of  the  hospitals,  and  the  chief 
physician  and  surgeon  of  the  army,  subject  to  the 
approbation  of  the  Commander  in  Chief,  and  shall 
be  equally  entitled  to  promotion  to  hospital  physi- 
cians and  surgeons  with  the  regimental  surgeons  of 
states  lines. ^^^ 

On  recommendation  of  the  director  approved  by 
the  Board  of  War: 

Resolved,  That  Dr.  Joseph  Young,  a  deranged 
senior  surgeon,  and  doctors  Goodwin  Wilson,  Daniel 
Jenifer,  Samuel  Edmondson  and  George  Campbell, 
eldest  surgeon's-mates,  be  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
hospital  physicians  and  surgeons,  to  fill  the  vacan- 

^^^  A  copy  of  this  report  of  the  Board  of  General  Officers,  refer- 
red to,  in  the  Board  of  War  report,  as  No.  2,  is  in  the  Papers 
of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  148,  II,  folio  269. 

182 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

cies  occasioned  by  the  resignations  of  doctors  Bloom- 
field,  Scott,  Hagan  and  Jackson,  and  the  promotion 
of  Dr.  Burnet. 

On  the  recommendation  of  the  deputy  director, 
approved  by  the  Board  of  War: 

Resolved,  That  doctors  Thomas  Tudor  Tucker, 
and  Vickars,  be  appointed  physicians  and  surgeons 
in  the  hospital  for  the  southern  department: 

That  Daniel  Smith  be  appointed  assistant  deputy 
purveyor,  and  John  Cams  assistant  deputy  apothe- 
cary, in  the  southern  department.^" 

October  i6,  1781.  1055 

Ordered,  That  Thursday  next  be  assigned  for 
electing  a  deputy  purveyor  for  the  military  hospi- 
tal, in  the  room  of  Doct  Brownson,  who  is  elected 
governor  of  Georgia. 

October  25,  1781.  1072 

A  report  from  the  committee  of  the  week  was 
read;  Whereupon, 

The  Committee  of  the  week  report, 

That  a  letter  of  Robt.  Johnson  Deputy  Purveyor 
of  the  Southern  Department  requesting  relief  for 
the  Gentlemen  of  his  Department;  the  Petition  of 
Capt.  Joseph  Traversier  praying  for  the  pay  and 
subsistance  due  to  him;  the  letter  of  R.  G.  Living- 
ston praying  for  so  much  pay  as  will  enable  him  to 
join  his  Reg*";  the  Petition  of  Thomas  Bond  and 
others  officers  of  the  medical  Department;  the  Peti- 
tion of  John  Dealy  praying  for  a  discharge  from  the 
army;  the  Letter  from  Doctor  Hailing  requesting 
the  pay  due  to  him,  and  to  know  whether  he  is  con- 

^^^  A  copy  of  the  recommeudatiou  of  the  director  (John  Coch- 
ran) dated  June  4,  1781,  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, No.  148,  II,  foHo  273;  a  copy  of  the  recommendation  of 
the  deputy  director  (David  Olyphant)  is  on  foHo  263. 

183 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

sidered  as  retiring  from  the  service;  be  referred  to 
the  Board  of  War. 

November  3,  1781.  1092,  3-8 

A  memorial  and  petition  of  Barn:  Binney  was 
read.^^^ 

The  committee  to  whom  the  letters  from  the  su- 
perintendent of  finance  relative  to  the  hospital  de- 
partment; and 

The  committee  to  whom  the  letters  from  the  Su- 
perintendent of  Finance  relating  to  the  Hospital  De- 
partment was  referred  do  report  that  they  have  fully 
considered  the  present  state  of  the  Hospital  or  Medi- 
cal Department  in  the  Army,  and  the  several  papers 
referred  to  them,  and  having  taken  the  best  advice 
and  information  in  their  power  are  of  opinion  that 
great  economical  advantages  to  the  public  and  very 
useful  alterations  to  the  sick  and  wounded,  may  be 
obtained  by  a  regulation  of  the  said  Department  in 
the  following  principles. 

By  destroying  all  distinctions  between  Hospitals 
and  forming  the  whole  Medical  Department  into 
one  uniform  Corps. 

By  establishing  the  direction  of  practice  and  Pur- 
veyorship  entirely  distinct  and  separate  vesting  it 
in  different  hands. 

By  establishing  the  Superintendance  of  the  De- 
partment in  a  Board  of  Surgeons,  properly  organized 
for  that  purpose  and  not  in  a  single  person. 

By  the  promoting  the  use  of  regimental  Hospitals, 
and  preventing  the  crowding  the  sick  together  in 
General  Hospitals. 

By  preventing  every  person  concerned  in  Hospi- 
tals from  trading  and  speculating  in  any  manner 
whatever  for  private  advantage  and  emolument. 

"^  This  memorial  and  petition,  dated  November  3,  1781,  is  in 
the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  41,  I,  foUo  375. 

184 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

By  reducing  the  number  of  Surgeons  and  Mates 
of  the  General  Hospitals. 

Under  the  influence  of  these  principles  your  Com- 
mittee beg  leave  to  Report  the  following  Ordinance 
for  constituting  and  arranging  the  Hospital  Depart- 
ment. 

An  Ordinance  for  regulating  the  General  Hospital, 
and  Surgeons  of  the  Army. 

Be  it  ordained  by  the  United  States  in  Congress 
Assembled,  That  there  shall  be  one  Physician  in 
Chief  to  the  Army  and  Director  of  the  Military  Hos- 
pitals: [Thirteen]  Twelve  Surgeons  and  twenty  [six] 
four  Mates,  for  the  General  Hospital,  a  Surgeon 
and  one  Mate  to  every  regiment;  an  Apothecary  and 
two  Assistants;  and  a  Purveyor  and  one  assistant. 

The  Physician  in  Chief  and  the  hospital  Surgeons 
or  any  three  of  such  Surgeons  shall  make  a  Medical 
Board,  of  which  a  field  Officer  to  be  appointed  in 
the  usual  form  shall  sit  as  President;  it  shall  meet 
regularly  once  a  month,  by  General  order,  or  often- 
er  if  requisite.  They  shall  examine  regimental  and 
examine  and  appoint  all  hospital  Mates;  and  shall 
examine  and  recommend  the  [regimental  and]  hospital 
Surgeons,  [and  none  but  those  recommended  by  the 
Board  shall  be  appointed  by  Congress  to  vacancies,] 
and  no  person  under  the  age  of  21  years  shall  be  ap- 
pointed a  Mate:  It  shall  be  the  special  duty  of  the 
said  Board  from  time  to  time,  to  settle  the  propor- 
tions of  regimental  and  hospital  practice,  and  to 
make  regulations  accordingly.  They  shall  prescribe 
the  measures  for  supplying  the  sick  effectually  with 
medicines,  stores,  provisions  &c.  Lt  shall  also  be 
heir  duty  to  make  out  proper  estimates  for  the 
Purveyor,  inspect  his  accounts  and  transactions, 
and  regulate  his  plan  of  issues  so  as  to  prevent 
waste  and  extravagance.  As  often  as  required,  the 

185 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

Director  shall  report  to  the  Board  a  full  state  of  all 
the  Hospitals  under  his  direction,  and  receive  their 
Instructions.  This  Board  shall  enquire  into  all  com- 
plaints brought  against  Officers  of  the  Department: 
and  present  to  a  Court  Martial,  such  as  they  may 
think  deserving  of  censure.  And  this  Board  shall  be 
authorized  to  digest  rules  and  carry  into  execution, 
every  thing  relative  to  the  Medical  pepartmerit: 
Provided  nevertheless,  that  no  regulation  of  theirs 
be  valid  and  take  effect  until  issued  in  orders,  with 
the  consent  and  approbation  of  the  Commander  in 
Chief  or  the  Commanding  Officer  of  a  separate  De- 
partment. 

The  Physician  in  Chief  and  Director  shall  have  a 
general  Superintendency  and  direction  of  practice, 
both  in  Camp  and  in  hospitals.  He  shall  always 
maintain  an  office  near  Head  Quarters,  so  as  to  be 
ready,  at  all  times,  to  consult  and  advise  with  the 
Commander  in  Chief:  and  to  distribute  the  neces- 
sary advice  and  direction  to  the  Surgeons  with  whom 
it  shall  be  his  duty  to  correspond.  With  the  concur- 
rence of  the  Commander  in  Chief  he  may  establish 
such  Hospitals  as  service  requires:  and  he  shall  dis- 
pose of  the  officers  necessary  to  condljct  them.  In 
time  of  engagement  or  any  emergency,  he  shall  call 
into  the  field  as  many  hospital  Surgeons  as  the  occa- 
sion requires;  and  by  order  of  the  General,  may 
have  assistance  in  hospitals,  from  the  regimental 
Surgeons. 

It  shall  also  be  the  special  duty  of  the  Director, 
frequently  to  inspect  all  the  hospitals  under  his  di- 
rection; to  see  that  they  are  managed  with  economy 
and  success:  to  correct  all  abuses;  to  suspend  and 
bring  to  trial,  delinquent  Officers:  and  to  make 
monthly  returns  of  the  sick  to  the  Commander. 
In  the  absence  of  the  Director  from  Camp,  the 

1 86 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

Surgeon  eldest  in  appointment,  who  is  present,  shall 
do  his  duty. 

.  Every  Surgeon  shall  direct  his  own  hospital  agree- 
able to  the  regulations,  from  time  to  time  adopted 
by  Congress  or  the  Medical  Board,  and  communi- 
cated to  him  by  the  Director.  He  is  hereby  author- 
ized to  order  from  the  Purveyor  or  his  Assistant,  or 
from  the  Commissaries  and  Quarter  Masters  of  the 
Army,  or  to  be  purchased  from  the  neighborhood, 
whatever  is  necessary  and  convenient  for  the  sick: 
and  shall  be  accountable  for  his  conduct  and  success 
in  practice,  to  the  director;  but  shall  not  be  dis- 
missed the  service  without  due  form  of  trial. 

When  two  or  more  Surgeons  are  on  duty  in  one 
hospital,  each  shall  act  independently  with  respect 
to  all  matters  relating  to  his  own  particular^charge, 
and  shall  be  accountable  to  the  director  only,  or  the 
Surgeon  presiding  in  his  stead.  In  case  of  dispute, 
with  regard  to  any  matter  respecting  the  whole  hos- 
pital, the  Surgeon  of  senior  appointment  shall  con- 
trol, until  the  matter  in  dispute  can  be  decided  by 
the  Director,  or  in  his  absence,  the  presiding  Sur- 
geon. 

The  regimental  Surgeon  shall  give  diligent  atten- 
tion to  such  regulations  as  may  be  established  re- 
specting their  conduct,  and  shall  manage  the  sick  of 
their  respective  regiments  accordingly:  and  shall  also 
be  accountable  to  the  Physician  in  Chief  as  the  com- 
mon head  of  the  Medical  Department. 

The  Hospital  and  regimental  Mates  shall  observe 
the  director  of  the  Surgeons,  and  shall  diligently  per- 
form all  the  reasonable  duties  required  of  them,  for 
the  recovery  of  the  sick.  They  shall  also  make  out 
returns  of  the  sick,  for  the  Surgeons  respectively, 
agreeable  to  such  forms  as  the  director  shall  re- 
quire. 

187 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

The  Apothecary  and  his  Assistants  shall  receive, 
prepare  and  dehver  Medicines,  Instruments  and 
dressings,  and  other  articles  of  his  department,  to 
the  hospitals  and  Army,  on  orders,  in  writing,  from 
the  director  or  Surgeons.  He  shall  appoint  a  proper 
number  of  Mates  to  assist  him  in  his  duty,  and  shall 
furnish  one  to  every  Hospital,  where  one  is  required 
by  the  Director. 

All  the  Instruments  delivered  by  whose  order  so- 
ever obtained,  shall  be  paid  for,  at  prime  cost,  by 
the  Surgeon  or  Mate  receiving  them. 

The  Purveyor  shall  provide  all  necessary  medi- 
cines, utensils  and  stores  of  every  kind,  that  may  be 
ordered  by  the  Medical  Board,  for  the  delivery  of 
which  a  written  order  from  the  Director  of  a  hospi- 
tal Surgeon  shall  be  his  voucher.  It  shall  also  be  his 
duty  to  pay  all  the  Officers  of  the  Hospital  and  every 
debt  and  expence  of  the  sick  after  being  duly  certi- 
fied. For  these  purposes  he  shall  draw  money  from 
the  Treasury  agreeable  to  the  estimates  given  him 
by  the  Medical  Board.  He  shall  settle  his  accounts 
of  expenditure  in  money  every  three  months,  with 
the  Auditors  of  accounts,  and  once  a  month,  he 
shall  lay  a  state  of  the  expenditure  of  stores  with  the 
stock  on  hand,  before  the  Medical  Board. 

The  Purveyor  shall  direct  the  conduct  of  his  As- 
sistant, and  by  advice  and  order  of  the  Medical 
Board  shall  appoint  such  other  Assistants,  Store- 
keepers and  Clerks  as  the  service  may  require. 

In  every  hospital  the  purveyor  or  his  Assistant  shall 
appoint  a  steward:  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  pur- 
chase vegetables,  straw  and  other  small  articles,  to 
receive  the  stores  and  provisions  for  the  use  of  the 
hospital  and  dehver  them  agreeable  to  the  orders  of 
the  prescribing  Surgeons.  And  although  in  his  pur- 
chases and  Issues  he  is  to  obey  the  orders  of  the 

1 88 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

prescribing  Surgeons:  yet  for  the  faithful  discharge 
of  his  OHice,  he  is  to  be  accountable  to  the  Purveyor, 
and  for  this  purpose  he  shall  keep  separate  accounts 
of  all  he  receives  from  the  Purveyors,  Quarter  Mas- 
ters and  Commissaries,  and  of  what  he  purchases 
himself  from  the  country;  and  shall  render  an  ac- 
count of  all  his  Issues  monthly,  with  his  stock  on 
hand,  to  the  Purveyor;  thus  to  enable  the  Purveyor 
to  lay  the  whole  monthly  expence  of  the  hospital, 
before  the  Medical  Board.  The  Steward's  vouchers 
shall  express  not  only  by  whom  ordered,  but  by 
whom  received  also.  The  Steward  shall  also  receive 
the  spare  regimental  arms,  accoutrements  and 
cloathing  of  each  soldier  admitted  into  the  Hospi- 
tal keeping  entries  of  and  giving  receipts  for  every 
Article  received,  which  when  the  soldier  shall  be  dis- 
charged, shall  be  accounted  for  by  the  said  Steward, 
with  the  Commanding  Officer  of  the  regiment  to 
which  such  soldier  belonged,  or  other  proper  person, 
and  shall  also  take  charge  of  the  hospita.1  cloathing. 
In  every  Hospital,  the  director  or  Senior  Surgeon 
present,  shall  appoint  a  Matron  and  a  proper  num- 
ber of  nurses  to  be  under  the  direction  of  the  pre- 
scribing Surgeons,  and  paid  by  the  Purveyor. 

During  the  summer,  when  the  Army  is  in  the 
field,  the  Director  shall  institute  a  flying  or  field 
Hospital,  in  the  rear  of  Camp,  and  appoint  proper 
Surgeons  to  take  direction  of  it,  considering  it  al- 
ways as  a  branch  of  the  General  Hospital  and  to 
have  one  common  regulation  and  interest  with  it. 

One  Surgeon  at  least,  whom  the  General  may 
choose,  shall  always  reside  near  head  Quarters,  to 
attend  the  General  and  Staff"  Officers,  and  to  be  in 
readiness  for  any  emergency  when  a  division  or  de- 
tachment of  the  Army  is  sent  off",  or  in  any  manner 
becomes  a  distinct  and  separate  body  from  the  Main 

189 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

Army,  the  Medical  board  shall  nominate  its  propor- 
tion of  Medical  Staff  of  which  the  Surgeon  eldest  in 
appointment  shall  preside,  with  all  the  powers  of 
Physician  in  Chief  and  director;  and  shall  form  a 
Medical  board,  to  be  authorized  as  before  men- 
tioned: and  when  two  Armies  unite,  having  each  a 
separate  Board,  one  shall  dissolve  of  course  by  di- 
rection of  the  Commanding  Officer  of  the  whole. 

When  Officers  of  the  Line  do  duty  in  hospitals, 
the  Medical  board  shall  make  rules  for  their  conduct, 
that  they  may  not  interfere  with  the  Surgeons,  and 
they  shall  receive  their  instructions  by  General 
order. 

That  the  Quarter  Master  General  furnish  the  hos- 
pital Department,  from  time  to  time,  as  occasion 
may  require  with  such  a  number  of  horses  and  wag- 
ons as  may  be  necessary  for  removing  the  sick  and 
wounded  and  for  transporting  the  hospital  stores, 
but  that  no  other  horses  than  those  [allowed  to  be 
kept  by]  for  which  forage  may  be  herein  allowed  to 
the  Officers  of  the  Department,  be  kept  separately 
and  at  the  expence  of  the  Department. 

That  no  officer  or  other  person  employed  in  the 
hospital  or  Medical  Department  shall  on  any  ac- 
count whatever,  be  concerned  in  trade  for  his  pri- 
vate emolument  and  advantage. 

That  no  officer  or  other  person  in  the  hospital  or 
Medical  Department  except  the  sick  or  wounded, 
be  permitted  to  use  any  of  the  stores  provided  for 
the  sick. 

That  the  Physician  in  Chief,  the  Surgeons  of  the 
Hospital,  Purveyor,  Apothecary,  Assistant  Purveyor 
and  Assistant  Apothecary  be  appointed  and  Com- 
missioned by  Congress.  The  Regimental  Surgeons 
and  Mates  to  be  appointed  as  heretofore. 

That  all  the  Officers  in  the  Hospital  or  Medical 
Department  shall  be  subject  to  trial  by  Courts  Mar- 

190 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

tial  for  all  ofTcnccs  in  the  same  manner  as  officers  of 
the  Line  of  the  Army. 

That  the  pay  and  establishment  of  the  Officers  of 
the  hospital  Department  and  Medical  Staff  be  as 
follows,  payable  in  silver  Spanish  Milled  dollars  a 
7/6  a  dollar  [or  other  money  equivalent.] 

Physician  in  Chief  and  Director  of  the  Military 
Hospitals  125  dollars  per  month  2  rations  for  him- 
self and  I  for  his  servant  per  day  and  forage  for  2 
horses. 

Surgeons  of  the  General  Hospital  90  dollars  per 
month  and  2  rations  per  day  and  forage  for  two 
horses. 

Purveyor  and  Apothecary  each  100  dollars  per 
month. 

Assistant  Purveyor  and  Apothecary  50  dollars 
per  month  each. 

Regimental  Surgeons  each  60  dollars  per  month, 
I  ration  per  day  and  forage  for  one  horse. 

Surgeons'  Mates  in  Hospitals  40  dollars  per  month 
and  I  ration  per  day. 

Do.  in  the  Army  40  dollars  per  mo.  and  i  ration 
per  day. 

Steward  for  each  Hospital  30  dollars  per  mo.  and 
I  ration  per  day. 

That  none  of  the  aforesaid  Officers  or  other  per- 
sons employed  in  and  of  the  Hospitals  be  entitled  to 
rations  of  provision  or  forage,  when  on  furlough. 

That  the  Physician  in  Chief  be  allowed  a  two 
horse  covered  wagon  for  transporting  his  baggage. 

That  the  same  allowance  be  made  to  the  afore- 
said Officers  for  retained  rations  as  is  allowed  to 
officers  of  the  line  of  the  army;  and  also  that  each 
of  them  be  annually  entitled  to  draw  Cloathing  from 

191 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

the  Stores  of  the  Cloathier  General  in  the  same  man- 
ner and  under  the  same  regulations  as  are  estab- 
lished for  Officers  of  the  Line  by  a  resolution  of  Con- 
gress of  the  25  Nov.  1779  and  in  like  manner  as  has 
heretofore  been  used. 

That  the  several  Officers  above  mentioned  (ex- 
cept Stewards)  shall  at  the  end  of  the  War  be  en- 
titled to  a  provision  of  Land  in  the  proportions  fol- 
lowing viz:  Physician  in  Chief  to  have  the  same 
quantity  as  a  Brigadier  General;  the  Surgeons,  Pur- 
veyor and  Apothecary  of  the  Hospital  the  same  as  a 
Colonel;  Regimental  Surgeons  and  assistants  to  the 
Purveyor  and  Apothecary  the  same  as  a  Major;  Hos- 
pital and  regimental  Surgeons'  Mates  the  same  as  a 
Captain. 

That  all  former  arrangements  of  the  Hospital  De- 
partment and  all  resolutions  heretofore  passed  touch- 
ing the  same  be  repealed.^" 

December  20,  1781.  11 82 

(Note)  A  memorial  of  George  Glentworth  and 
others,  supernumerary  physicians  and  surgeons  of 
the  general  hospital,  was  presented  this  day  and  re- 
ferred to  the  Secretary  at  War,  as  the  indorsement 
shows.  It  is  dated  December  17,  1781,  and  is  in  the 
Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  41,  HI, 
folio  483. 

December  24,  1781.  11 83 

An  ordinance  respecting  the  hospital  department 
was  read  the  first  time: 

Ordered,  That  Wednesday  next  be  assigned  for 
the  second  reading  of  this  ordinance. 

1^^  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
22,  foUo  45. 

192 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 
STANDING  COMMITTEES^^^ 

Medical 
1 6  February,  1781.  William  Burnett 

January  3,  1782.  4-7 

On  a  report  of  the  Secretary  at  War,  to  whom 
was  referred  a  memorial  of  Dr.  Glentworth  and 
others: 

Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  hereby  is  recommended 
to  the  State  of  Pensylvania,  to  settle  the  balance  of 
pay  and  depreciation  due  to  Doctors  G.  Glent- 
worth, W.  Smith,  J.  Fallon,  S.  Duffield  and  S.  Hail- 
ing, late  physicians  and  surgeons  in  the  general  hos- 
pital, on  the  same  principles  they  settled  with  the 
other  physicians  and  surgeons  of  the  army,  citizens 
of  that  State.  ^^^ 

On  a  report  of  a  committee,  consisting  of  Mr. 
(Abraham)  Clark,  Mr.  (Ezekiel)  Cornell  and  Mr. 
(Isaac)  Motte,  to  whom  was  referred  an  arrange- 
ment of  the  medical  department: 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  ordi- 
nance respecting  the  Hospital  Department,  beg 
leave  to  report — 

That  they  have  considered  the  same,  and  are  of 
opinion  that  any  ordinance  for  a  new  establishment 
of  the  hospital,  (on)  the  plan  proposed,  is  unneces- 
sary and  at  this  time  for  many  considerations  im- 
proper they  have  therefore  returned  the  same  in 

"^  Seepages  1229  and  1230  of  Vol.  XVIII.  I  now  give  such  ap- 
pointments only  as  were  made  in  1781. 

**^  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
149,  I,  folio  63.  So  far  as  Hailing  is  concerned  it  superseded  the 
following  resolution  sent  to  Congress  by  the  Secretary  at  War 
December  18: 

Resolved,  That  the  Comptroller  be  and  he  is  hereby  directed 
to  adjust  the  accounts  of  Doctor  Hailing  for  pay  and  deprecia- 
tion on  the  same  principles  as  the  accounts  of  Doctor  Allison 
were  settled.    This  resolution  is  on  folio  53. 

193 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

the  manner  they  received  it. —  Your  Committee  are 
nevertheless  of  opinion  that  sundry  alterations  and 
amendments  are  necessary  to  be  made  to  the  plan 
for  conducting  the  General  Hospital,  passed  on  the 
30th  day  of  September,  1 780,  and  accordingly  have 
herewith  submitted  such  alterations  and  amend- 
ments for  the  consideration  of  Congress,  in  case 
they  shall  be  of  opinion  with  the  Committee,  that  a 
new  regulation  of  the  Hospital  by  an  Ordinance  is 
at  this  time  unnecessary  or  improper. — 

Resolved,  That  for  the  more  regular  conducting 
the  general  hospital,  the  offices  of  chief  physician 
and  surgeon  of  the  army,  and  of  chief  hospital  phy- 
sician, be,  and  hereby  are  abolished;  and  that  the 
chief  physician  and  surgeon  to  the  army,  eldest  in 
appointment,  be  continued  in  service,  under  the  title 
of  physician,  with  the  pay  and  emoluments  hereto- 
fore allowed  to  a  chief  hospital  physician: 

That  the  number  of  surgeons  to  all  the  military 
hospitals  of  the  United  States,  be  reduced  so  as  not 
to  exceed  fifteen: 

That  the  director  have  the  general  superintend- 
ance  and  direction  of  all  the  military  hospitals,  and 
of  practice  both  in  camp  and  in  hospitals: 

That  in  the  absence  of  the  director,  his  duty  de- 
volve on  the  deputy  director  or  physician,  and  in 
their  absence  on  the  hospital  surgeons,  according  to 
seniority: 

That  the  director,  or  in  his  absence  the  senior 
medical  officer,  with  the  approbation  of  the  Com- 
mander in  Chief,  or  commanding  general  of  a  sep- 
arate army,  be,  and  hereby  is  authorized  and  em- 
powered, as  often  as  may  be  judged  necessary,  to 
call  a  medical  board,  which  shall  consist  of  the  three 
senior  medical  officers  then  present;  and  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  such  board  to  appoint  all  hospital  mates, 

194 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

to  examine  all  candidates  for  promotion  in  the  hos- 
pital department,  and  recommend  to  the  Secretary 
at  War  such  as  they  judge  best  qualified;  and  gen- 
erally to  take  cognizance  of,  and  give  their  opinion 
and  advice  on  every  matter  relative  to  the  depart- 
ment, which  may  be  submitted  to  them  by  the 
Commander  in  Chief,  or  commanding  general  of  a 
separate  army:  provided  always,  that  no  regulation, 
plan  or  order  of  the  board,  shall  be  valid  and  take 
effect,  until  approved  by  the  Commander  in  Chief, 
or  commanding  general  of  a  separate  army,  and  is- 
sued in  general  orders: 

That  all  returns  heretofore  ordered  to  be  made 
by  the  director  or  deputy  director,  to  the  medical 
committee,  be  made  to  the  Secretary  at  War: 

That  the  stewards  may,  in  the  first  instance,  when 
the  purveyor  or  his  assistant  is  at  a  distance,  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  director  or  senior  medical  officer,  but 
shall  be  removeable  at  pleasure,  and  others  substi- 
tuted in  their  stead,  by  the  purveyor  or  his  assist- 
ant. And  although  in  their  purchases  and  issues, 
they  are  to  obey  the  order  of  the  prescribing  sur- 
geons, yet  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  their  duty, 
they  are  to  be  accountable  to  the  purveyor,  who 
shall  in  like  manner  be  accountable  to  the  United 
States.  Wherefore,  the  said  stewards  shall  keep  sep- 
arate accounts  of  all  they  receive,  and  of  what  they 
themselves  purchase;  and  shall  render  an  account 
monthly  of  all  their  issues,  with  their  stock  on  hand, 
to  the  purveyor,  who  shall  render  the  said  accounts, 
together  with  a  particular  account  of  the  supplies 
furnished  by  himself  or  his  assistants  to  each  re- 
spective hospital,  once  every  three  months  to  the 
Superintendant  of  finance: 

That  the  Secretary  of  War  be,  and  he  is  herbye 
empowered  and  directed,  on  or  before  the  first  day 

195 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

of  February  next,  and  hereafter,  from  time  to  time, 
as  the  service  may  require,  to  arrange  the  depart- 
ment agreeably  to  the  foregoing  resolutions,  and  to 
issue  his  orders  to  such  as  he  thinks  proper  to  re- 
main, paying  a  due  regard  in  his  first  arrangement 
to  such  of  the  chief  physicians  and  surgeons  as  may 
choose  to  continue  in  service  in  the  rank  of  sur- 
geons, and  in  his  subsequent  arrangements  to  such 
of  the  senior  officers  as  may  choose  to  remain  in 
service : 

That  such  of  the  officers  as  shall  not  be  called 
into  service  agreeably  to  the  foregoing  resolution, 
be  considered  as  reduced  by  Congress,  and  be  en- 
titled to  the  emoluments  granted  by  the  Act  of  Con- 
gress of  the  17  January,  1781: 

That  when  by  reason  of  vacancies  or  otherwise, 
any  officer  hereafter  to  be  appointed  in  the  hospital 
department,  and  whose  appointment  is  reserved  to 
Congress,  [it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary  at 
war  to  recommend  the  person  or  persons  best  quali- 
fied, provided  that,  in  the  recommendations  for 
director,  deputy  director  and  physician]  due  regard 
be  paid  to  the  officers  next  in  rank;  and  that  the 
appointment  of  hospital  surgeons  be  from  among 
the  regimental  surgeons  and  hospital  mates;  pro- 
vided that  no  regimental  surgeon  shall  be  so  ap- 
pointed, who  shall  not  have  submitted  himself  to  an 
examination  by  the  medical  board,  and  obtained 
from  them  a  certificate  that  he  is  well  qualified  for 
the  office  of  regimental  surgeon,  by  which  certificate 
the  regimental  surgeon  shall  be  considered  as  sup- 
erior in  rank  to  an  hospital  mate,  but  not  otherwise. 

Resolved,  That  the  director,  deputy  director,  phy- 
sician, surgeons  and  mates,  as  well  hospital  as  regi- 
mental, receive  their  pay  out  of  the  military  chest, 
at  the  same  time  and  in  the  same  manner  as  the 

196 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

army  with  which  they  serve;  the  abstracts  to  be 
signed  by  the  director,  deputy  director  or  physician, 
or  in  their  absence  by  the  senior  hospital  surgeon; 
and  the  warrants  to  issue  in  the  same  manner  as  for 
the  pay  of  the  army.^^'* 

February  20,  1782.  81-2 

The  committee,  consisting  of  Mr.  (Abraham) 
Clark,  Mr.  (Ezekiel)  Cornell,  Mr.  (Thomas)  Mc- 
Kean,  to  whom  were  referred  the  report  of  the  Sec- 
retary at  War,  on  a  petition  of  Dr.  Hagan,  and  the 
memorials  of  Dr.  Jackson,  Dr.  Williams,  Dr.  Eaker, 
and  Dr.  Frinke,  delivered  in  a  report;  Whereupon, 

Resolved,  That  the  comptroller  be,  and  he  is  here- 
by, authorized  and  directed  to  adjust  the  accounts 
of  all  the  officers  of  the  late  general  hospital  for  pay 
and  subsistence,  up  to  the  time  the  arrangement  took 
place  in  [October]  September,  1780,  or  for  so  much 
of  the  preceding  time  as  they  continued  in  service, 
upon  their  producing  proper  documents  of  the  time 
of  their  respective  services. 

Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  hereby  is,  recommend- 
ed to  the  legislatures  of  the  several  states,  to  settle 
and  discharge  on  account  of  the  United  States,  the 
depreciation  of  pay  of  such  officers  in  the  late  gen- 
eral hospital  as  are  inhabitants  of,  or  belong  to  their 
respective  states,  who  resigned  their  appointments 
after  the  loth  day  of  April,  1780,  or  became  super- 
numerary by  the  new  arrangement  in  [October] 
September,  1780. 

Resolved,  That  the  comptroller  be,  and  he  is 
hereby,  authorized  and  directed  to  settle  the  depre- 
ciation of  pay  of  officers  in  the  late  general  hospital, 

'^^  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
22,  folios  43  and  63.  The  paragraphs  preceding  the  resolutions 
are  in  Abraham  Clark's  writing,  the  rest  is  in  that  of  Charles 
Thomson. 

197 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

who  resigned  or  became  supernumerary  as  aforesaid, 
and  who  do  not  belong  to  any  particular  State,  in 
the  same  manner  as  hath  been  provided  for  the 
officers  of  the  late  Colonel  Hazen's  regiment. 

Ordered,  That  the  account  of  Dr.  Frinke,  for  tak- 
ing care  of  the  sick  and  wounded  in  the  retreat  from 
Ticonderoga,  in  1777,  and  for  furnishing  supplies  for 
the  same,  be  returned  to  Dr.  Frinke,  and  the  settle- 
ment suspended,  until  authentic  vouchers  shall  be 
produced  respecting  such  services  and  expendi- 
tures.^®^ 

February  26,  1782.  100 

(Note)  On  this  day,  according  to  the  indorsement, 
a  memorial  of  Joseph  Eaker,  of  the  same  date,  was 
read.  It  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
No.  41,  III,  folio  71. 

^^^  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Abraham  Clark,  is  in  the  Pa- 
pers of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  22,  folio  65. 

Eaker's  memorial,  dated  February  18,  is  in  No.  41,  III,  folio 
69;  Hagan's,  undated,  is  in  No.  41,  IV,  folio  193;  Jackson's,  dated 
January  28,  is  in  No.  41,  IV,  folio  426. 

The  Secretary  at  War's  report  is  in  No.  149,  I,  folio  119,  and 
is  as  follows: 

War  Office,  January  16th,  1782. 
Sir, 

On  the  petition  of  Dr.  Francis  Hagan  referred,  the  following 
resolve  is  submitted  to  the  consideration  of  Congress: 

That  the  Comptroller  be  and  he  is  hereby  authorized  and  di- 
rected to  adjust  the  account  of  Dr.  Francis  Hagan  late  Physi- 
cian and  Surgeon  in  the  General  Hospital  for  pay  and  deprecia- 
tion in  the  same  manner  as  have  been  provided  for  the  officers 
of  General  Hazen's  Regiment. 

The  following  report,  without  date,  is  in  No.  149,  I,  folio  117: 

There  being  a  number  of  officers  who  by  former  acts  of  Con- 
gress are  entitled  to  pay  or  additional  pay,  and  who  cannot  ob- 
tain a  settlement  of  the  depreciation  due  thereon  from  the  re- 
spective States  of  which  they  are  Inhabitants. 

Therefore,  Resolved,  That  the  Comptroller  be  directed  to  set- 
tle the  accounts  of  all  such  officers  on  the  same  principles  as  he 
settled  with  the  officers  of  Colonel  Hazen's  Regiment. 

198 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

April  10,  1782.  179 

That  the  petition  of  L*  Morris  praying  for  a  set- 
tlement of  his  accounts,  incurred  by  his  being  or- 
dered to  take  the  charge  of  an  hospital  in  Litchfield 
in  Connecticut,  be  referred  to  the  Superintendent  of 

Finance. ^^^ 

April  23,  1782.  209 

War  Office,  March  23rd,  1782. 
Sir, 

There  are  frequent  applications  for  the  discharge 
of  soldiers  whose  wounds  and  sickness  incapacitate 
them  for  all  farther  duty  even  in  garrison.  They  pre- 
fer a  dismission  from  the  service,  which  shall  entitle 
them  to  a  pension  equal  to  half  of  their  pay,  to  be- 
ing classed  with  the  invalids  where  full  pay  and 
every  emolument  of  a  soldier  would  be  continued  to 
them. 

Was  public  economy  the  only  consideration  in 
this  matter,  there  would  not  I  think  remain  a  doubt 
respecting  the  propriety  of  adopting  this  mode  of 
discharge  generally.  But  as  it  becomes  necessary 
equally  to  guard  against  future  inconveniences  as  to 
accommodate  the  wishes  of  individuals  I  beg  leave 
to  submit  the  following  resolve,  which  as  it  only  re- 
spects those  whose  private  circumstances  will  en- 
able them  when  discharged  to  live  independent  of 
any  other  gratuity  than  their  pension,  I  think  will 
obviate  the  possibility  of  an  imputation  against  the 
public  that  they  have  dismissed  such  of  their  ser- 
vants as  could  be  no  longer  useful  without  provi- 
sion being  made  to  prevent  them  suffering  individ- 

"^2  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Joseph  Montgomery,  is  in  the 
Pajjers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  32,  folio  347.  It  is  un- 
dated but  belongs  to  this  period. 

199 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

ually   or   becoming   burthensome   to   the   societies 
where  they  might  live. 

[Congress  came  to  the  following  resolutions:] 

Resolved,  That  all  such  sick  and  wounded  soldiers 
of  the  armies  of  the  United  States,  who  shall  in  fu- 
ture be  reported  by  the  inspector  general,  or  the  in- 
spector of  a  separate  department,  and  approved  by 
the  Commander  in  Chief,  or  commanding  officer  of 
a  separate  department,  as  unfit  for  farther  duty 
either  in  the  field  or  in  garrison,  and  who  apply  for 
a  discharge  in  preference  to  being  placed  or  con- 
tinued in  the  corps  of  invalids,  [and  who  can  give 
authentic  proof  that  they  either  have  the  means  to 
support  themselves,  or  that  their  friends  will  provide 
for  them  and  prevent  them  becoming  burthensome 
to  the  society  where  they  really  belong  or  reside. 
In  that  case  all  such  persons  shall  be  discharged, 
and  be  entitled  to  receive  as  a  pension,  [the  value  of 
half  their  pay,]  five  dollars  per  month,  in  lieu  of  all 
pay  and  emoluments. 

Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  hereby  is,  recommend- 
ed to  the  several  states  to  discharge  such  pensions 
annually,  and  draw  on  the  Superintendant  of  finance 
for  the  payment  of  the  money  they  shall  advance 

And  that  the  foregoing  resolution  take  effect  so 
soon  as  the  Superintendant  of  the  Finances  shall  sig- 
nify to  the  several  states,  that  he  has  made  provi- 
sion for  answering  such  draughts. ^"^^ 

May  3,  1782.  235 

On  a  report  from  the  Secretary  at  War: 

War  Office,  May  3rd,  1782. 
Sir, 

To  the  two  companies  of  Artificers  now  in  this 

**^  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
149,  I,  folios  161-163. 

200 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

City  (making  the  whole  about  fifty  men)  there  are 
attached  a  Surgeon  and  a  Surgeon's  mate.  As  part 
of  these  companies  will  be  detained  in  this  town, 
part  are  now  at  Fort  Pitt,  part  will  be  sent  to  Vir- 
ginia and  part  of  them  will  join  the  army  under 
General  Greene,  this  dispersion  will  render  it  un- 
necessary to  retain  the  Surgeon  and  mate  longer  in 
the  service. 

Should  Congress  be  of  this  sentiment,  and  deem 
some  compensation  due  to  their  past  services  they 
will  please  to  resolve. 

Resolved,  That  as  the  dispersed  situation  of  the 
corps  of  artificers  commanded  by  Captain  Wyley, 
will  no  longer  require  the  services  of  Dr.  A.  McCos- 
key,  surgeon,  and  Dr.  W.  McCoskey,  his  mate,  they 
be  considered  as  reduced  and  retiring  from  service 
on  the  loth  instant  and  that  the  surgeon  be  entitled 
[from  that  day  to  receive  the  same  emoluments  as 
heretofore  allowed  to  surgeons  and  mates  retiring 
under  the  resolves  of  the  3*^  and  21^*  October  1780] 
to  all  the  emoluments  heretofore  allowed  to  reduced 
regimental  surgeons. ^^* 

June  6,  1782.  319 

Congress  proceeded  to  the  election  of  a  deputy 
purveyor  for  the  southern  hospital;  and,  the  ballots 
being  taken,  Dr.  N.  Brownson  was  elected,  having 
been  previously  nominated  by  Mr.  (William)  Few. 

(June  10,  1782.)  322 

(Report  of  Secretary  at  War,  on  the  arrangement 
of  the  Hospital  Department.) 

War  Office,  June  7th,  1782. 
Sir, 

I  have,  in  obedience  to  the  orders  of  Congress, 

1®"*  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
149,  I,  folio  303. 

201 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,   U.S.A. 

conferred  with  the  Superintendant  of  Finance  on  the 
report  of  your  Committee  respecting  the  Hospital 
Department  and  find  it  is  agreeable  to  him — 

As  the  Purveyor  wishes  that  the  Officers  acting 
immediately  under  him  should  be  of  the  same  grade 
— he  requests  that  he  may  be  allowed  to  appoint 
three  clerks,  one  of  whom  will  have  the  charge  of 
the  store  to  be  kept  near  the  Army — 

He  also  requests  that  there  may  be  no  distinct  al- 
lowance of  subsistence  for  himself  and  the  Apothe- 
cary, but  that  the  sum  intended  as  subsistence  be 
added  to  their  pay — 

I  wish  the  Purveyor's  requisitions  may  be  com- 
plied with  and  that  the  system,  as  it  will  then  stand, 
should  be  adopted  ^®^ 

July  23,  1782.  408-12 

On  the  report  of  a  committee,  consisting  of  Mr. 
(Joseph)  Montgomery,  Mr.  (Abraham)  Clark,  and 
Mr.  (David)  Ramsay,  to  whom  were  recommitted 
their  report  respecting  the  hospital  department,  and 
the  amendments  and  observations  thereon  by  the 
Secretary  at  War: 

Resolved,  That  in  conducting  the  business  of  the 
general  hospital,  there  shall  be  an  invariable  stand- 
ard of  prices  established  by  which  the  apothecary 
shall  be  charged  with  every  article  (received  into  his 
department,  and  at  which  he  shall  be  credited  for 

1^^  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
22,  folio  81.  The  indorsement  says  it  was  read  on  this  date. 

On  June  10,  according  to  the  indorsement,  was  read  a  letter  of 
June  5  from  General  W.  Smallwood,  enclosing  one  of  same  date 
from  Lieutenant  Levacher  de  Vaubrun,  asking  for  a  furlough  to 
visit  France.  They  were  referred  to  the  Secretary  at  War.  Gen- 
eral Smallwood's  letter  is  in  No.  161,  folio  183,  and  de  Vaubrun's 
is  in  No.  78,  XXIII,  folio  191. 

202 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

every  article) ''"'  he  shall  issue  the  standard  to  be  es- 
tablished by  the  medical  board,  or  such  person  or 
persons  as  they  shall  appoint,  which  shall  only  be 
considered  as  a  certain  ratio  whereby  to  keep  the 
accounts;  but  that,  in  the  settlement  of  all  accounts 
in  that  department,  all  deficient  articles,  not  issued 
or  returned,  shall  be  accounted  for  at  such  real 
value  as  shall  be  estimated  by  the  medical  board, 
and  approved  of  by  the  Secretary  at  War. 

An  account  shall  be  taken  as  soon  as  possible,  of 
all  the  medicines,  instruments  and  property  in  the 
apothecary's  department  belonging  to  the  public, 
in  the  hands  of  the  apothecary,  the  deputies,  assist- 
ants, and  mates,  the  surgeons  of  hospitals,  and  sur- 
geons of  regiments,  for  which  they  shall  severally 
be  charged  at  the  standard  value  ascertained  by 
the  board  as  aforesaid,  and  for  all  they  may  here- 
after receive,  but  to  account  for  deficiencies  at  the 
real  value,  to  be  estimated  as  aforesaid. 

The  apothecary  shall  be  accountable  for  all  arti- 
cles in  his  department  to  the  purveyor  throughout 
the  states,  until  they  come  into  the  hands  of  the 
prescribers;  and  all  deputies,  assistants,  and  mates, 
shall  make  returns,  and  be  accountable  to  the 
apothecary  for  the  medicines,  instruments  and  other 
property  belonging  to  the  public  in  the  department, 
now  in  their  hands,  and  of  such  as  they  may  here- 
after be  possessed  of. 

The  apothecary  shall  make  up  his  accounts  at  the 
expiration  of  every  year,  and  settle  thern  as  soon 
after  as  possible,  and  before  the  expiration  of  six 
months.  He  shall,  at  the  same  time,  make  out  two 

Also  a  memorial  dated  June  5  from  Oliver  Hanchett  was  re- 
ferrad  to  the  Secretary  at  War.  It  is  in  No.  149,  I,  folio  447. 

"^  The  words  in  parentheses  are  in  the  report  but  not  in  the 
Journal. 

203 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

returns  for  the  director  of  the  hospital,  one  specify- 
ing what  has  been  received  and  issued,  and  the 
amount  of  what  remains  on  hand;  the  other  exhibit- 
ing a  particular  amount  of  the  value  of  the  medi- 
cines, and  other  public  property,  each  prescriber  has 
received  within  the  year. 

All  losses  which  may  happen  by  the  events  of 
war,  and  other  circumstances  unavoidable,  shall  be 
borne  by  the  public.  In  cases  of  losses  by  fraud  or 
neglect  in  any  deputy,  assistant  or  mate,  the  apothe- 
cary shall  not  be  accountable  for  such  losses,  pro- 
vided the  delinquent  be  convicted  thereof  before  a 
court-martial  appointed  to  try  the  same. 

The  hospital  prescribers  shall  be  supplied,  upon 
their  own  application,  with  medicines  and  instru- 
ments necessary  for  the  sick  and  wounded  under 
their  care. 

Every  regimental  surgeon  shall  receive  yearly 
from  the  apothecary,  a  supply  of  medicines  to  such 
amount,  by  the  above  standard,  as  the  medical 
board  shall^judge  necessary. 

Every  prescribing  surgeon  or  physician,  either  in 
hospital  or  with  the  army,  shall  be  supplied  by  the 
apothecary  with  such  a  set  of  capital  instruments 
as  the  medical  board  shall  judge  necessary,  and  shall 
be  accountable  for  all  losses  in  medicines  and  in- 
struments not  arising  from  the  events  of  war  and 
other  circumstances  unavoidable.  Duplicates  of  all 
returns  made  by  the  apothecary  to  the  director,  shall 
be  lodged  in  the  war  office. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  army  of  the  United  States, 
excepting  the  southern  army,  at  present  under  the 
command  of  Major  General  Greene,  the  offices  of 
assistant  purveyor,  and  assistant  apothecary,  and 
the  storekeepers  under  the  purveyor  and  apothecary, 
except  one  storekeeper  under  the  purveyor  to  keep 

204 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

a  store  near  the  army,  and  all  the  clerks,  except 
[one]  two  to  the  purveyor,  shall  hereafter  be  discon- 
tinued.i" 

[The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  letter  of 
the  Secretary  of  War  respecting  the  rank  of  the  sur- 
geons in  the  hospital  department  submit  the  follow- 
ing resolutions:] 

That  all  surgeons  of  the  hospital  shall  take  rank 
after  the  director  of  the  hospital,  deputy  director 
and  physician  to  the  army,  in  the  following  order, 
viz.  those  surgeons  of  the  hospital,  who  have  been 
either  deputy  director,  physician  general,  surgeon 
general,  chief  physician,  or  chief  surgeon  to  the  hos- 
pital or  army,  shall  take  rank  next  to  the  above 
mentioned  officers:  and  their  relative  rank  to  each 
other  shall  be  according  to  the  date  of  their  respect- 
ive appointments  to  either  of  the  above  offices. 

That  all  such  as  were  regimental  surgeons,  when 
appointed  senior  physician  or  surgeon  to  the  hospi- 
tal, shall  take  rank  with  such  senior  physicians  and 
surgeons,  agreeably  to  the  date  of  their  first  appoint- 
ment, whether  to  the  regiment  or  hospital. 

All  surgeons,  the  date  of  whose  first  appointments, 
either  to  regiments  or  hospitals,  shall  have  been  on 
the  same  day,  shall  decide  their  rank  by  lot. 

[That  the  pay  and  subsistance  of  the  officers  of  the 
Hospital  department  and  medical  staff  be  as  fol- 
lows: 

Director  of  the  Hospital  122  dollars  per  month 
four  rations  per  day  for  himself  and  servants,  for- 
age for  two  horses  and  twenty-five  dollars  per  month 
subsistance. 

Deputy  Director  and  Physician  each  117  dollars 

1®^  The  recommitted  report  had  it: "and  all  the  clerks 

except  two  to  the  purveyor  one  of  whom  to  have  the  care  of  the 
store  near  the  army  and  all  the  mates  of  the  apothecary  except 
three  be  hereafter  discontinued." 

205 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

per  month  three  rations  per  day  for  himself  and  Ser- 
vants, and  forage  for  two  horses,  and  twenty  dollars 
per  month  Subsistance. 

Hospital  Surgeons  each  96  sl^  dollars  per  month 
two  rations  for  himself  and  servant  forage  for  two 
horses  and  fifteen  dollars  per  month  Subsistance. 

Purveyor  and  Apothecary  each  105  dollars  per 
month,  one  ration  and  forage  for  one  horse,  and  fif- 
teen dollars  per  month  subsistance. 

Deputy  purveyor  and  Deputy  apothecary  each 
loi  5/6  dollars  per  month,  one  ration,  and  forage  for 
one  horse,  and  ten  dollars  per  month  Subsistance. 

Hospital  Mates  each  45  dollars  per  month,  one 
ration  per  day,  and  five  dollars  per  month  Subsist- 
ance. 

Stewards  each  30  dollars  per  month,  one  ration 
per  day  and  five  dollars  per  month  Subsistance. 

Ward  Masters  each  23  dollars  per  month,  one  ra- 
tion per  day  and  three  dollars  per  month  Subsist- 
ance. 

That  all  former  Acts  of  Congress,  so  far  as  re- 
spects the  pay  Subsistance  rations  and  forage  grant- 
ed to  the  before  mentioned  Officers,  shall  be  and 
they  are  hereby  repealed.]  ^^^ 

That  for  the  more  convenient  subsistance  of  the 
officers  of  the  hospital  department,  they  be  allowed, 

^'^  The  recommitted  report  allowed  119  dollars  per  month  to 
the  director;  116  75/100  dollars  to  the  deputy  director  and  phy- 
sician; 93  45/90  dollars  to  hospital  surgeons,  three  rations  for 
himself  and  servant  and  15  dollars  for  subsistance;  lOG  60/90 
dollars  for  purveyor  and  apothecary. 

In  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  22,  folio  79,  on 
a  separate  sheet  in  Charles  Thomson's  hand,  is  a  copy  of  this 
part  of  the  report  relating  to  pay  and  subsistence,  with  the  fol- 
lowing variations  in  amounts:  deputy  director  111  dollars  per 
month;  hospital  surgeons  93 >a  dollars  per  month,  tlu'ee  '■ations 
for  himself  and  servant;  purveyor  and  apothecary  106^2  dollars 
per  month;  deputy  purveyor  and  deputy  apothecary  101/^  dol- 
lars per  month. 

206 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

including  their  former  allowance  of  rations  and  for- 
age as  follows: 

The  director  of  the  hospital,  four  rations  a  day 
for  himself  and  servants,  forage  for  two  horses,  and 
twenty-five  dollars  per  month  subsistance. 

The  deputy  director  and  physician,  each  three  ra- 
tions a  day  for  himself  and  servants,  forage  for  two 
horses,  and  twenty  dollars  per  month  subsistance. 

Hospital  surgeons,  each  two  rations  per  day,  for 
himself  and  servant,  forage  for  two  horses,  and  fif- 
teen dollars  per  month  subsistance. 

Deputy  purveyor  and  deputy  apothecary,  each 
one  ration  per  day,  forage  for  one  horse,  and  ten 
dollars  per  month  subsistance. 

Hospital  mates,  each  one  ration  per  day,  and  five 
dollars  per  month  subsistance. 

Ward  masters,  each  one  ration  per  day,  and  three 
dollars  per  month  subsistance. 

That  the  above  allowance  of  rations,  forage,  and 
subsistance  to  the  officers  of  the  hospital  depart- 
ment, over  and  above  what  they  severally  were  en- 
titled to,  at  the  time  of  passing  this  act,  shall  be 
charged  to  them  respectively,  as  advances  in  part 
of  their  monthly  pay. 

That  in  the  future  the  pay  and  allowance  of  the 
purveyor  and  apothecary  be  the  same  each  as  that 
of  a  hospital  surgeon. 

That  none  of  the  aforesaid  officers,  or  other  per- 
sons employed  in  any  of  the  hospitals,  be  entitled  to 
rations,  forage  or  subsistance,  when  on  furlough. 

That  the  regulation  respecting  officers'  servants, 

contained  in  the  Act  of  Congress  of  the  nth  day  of 

March,  1780,  shall  not  be  construed  to  extend  to  the 

hospital  department.^^^ 

1^^  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  a  clerk,  except  the  part  in 
parentheses  which  is  in  Abraham  Clark's  writing,  is  in  the  Papers 
of  the  Continejital  Congress,  No.  22,  folios  69  and  85.    The  report 

207 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

October  ii,  1782.  645 

Pursuant  to  the  resolution  of  the  27  of  February 
last,  the  Superintendant  of  finance  reports,  that  he 
has  appointed  Mr.  Edward  Fox,  a  commissioner  for 
setthng  the  accounts  of  the  hospital  department, 
desiring  to  be  favoured  with  the  orders  of  Congress 
if  they  should  disapprove  the  appointment.^^" 

November  12,  1782.  722 

The  Committee  of  the  Week,  (Mr.  Ralph  Izard, 
Mr.  Ezra  L'Hommedieu,  Mr.  William  Hemsley)  re- 
port, That  the  petition  of  Etienne  Halbon  on  behalf 
of  his  wife,  setting  forth  that  there  is  £12,  los  due  to 
her  from  the  general  hospital  for  wages  as  the  resi- 
due of  her  pay  while  nurse  in  the  hospital  [as  by 
Dr.  Binney's  certificate  directed  to  Dr.  Bond,  Jun., 
doth  appear]  be  referred  to  the  [Superintendant  of 
Finance]  Secretary  of  War.^'^^ 

November  25,  1782.  752 

War  Office,  Nov^  23^^  1782. 
Sir, 

The  request  of  Doctor  Tuclcer  referred  to  me  in- 
volves three  questions. 

The  first  is  whether  he  is  entitled  to  half  pay  al- 
lowed to  other  retiring  Iiospital  officers  of  his  rank 
— the  second  whether  he  is  entitled  to  pay  for  his 
attendance  on  the  hospital  in  Virginia,  and  the  third 

was  delivered  May  15,  and  on  May  30  was  referred  to  the  Sec- 
retary at  War  to  confer  with  the  Superintendent  of  finance  to 
report,  and  recommitted.  A  copy  of  the  recommitted  report  is 
in  No.  22,  foUo  73.  The  few  changes  made  in  their  report  by  the 
Committee  are  noted.  The  portion  in  parentheses  was  not  in  the 
recommitted  report. 

""  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
137,  I,  foUo  817. 

^^^  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Ralph  Izard,  is  in  the  Papers  of 
the  Continental  Congress,  No.  32,  folio  413.  It  was  passed  this  day, 
as  the  indorsement  shows. 

208 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

what  allowance  will  be  made  for  his  expcnces  while 
attending  the  sick  in  Charlestown, 

There  cannot  be  a  doubt  with  respect  to  the  first. 
The  resolves  of  Congress  of  the  ly*?"  of  January  1781 
fully  secure  to  him  the  half  pay  allowed  to  other 
officers  of  his  rank  as  he  was  not  deranged  until  the 
15*.^  of  May  following. 

On  the  second  question  I  would  observe  that  by 
the  resolves  of  Congress  passed  May  15^-  1781  it 
is  ordered  that  all  officers  of  the  Medical  depart- 
ment appointed  under  the  directorship  of  Doctor 
Olyphant  who  were  then  in  captivity  in  South  Caro- 
lina and  Georgia,  and  had  the  charge  of  sick  prison- 
ers in  those  States  be  continued  in  their  respective 
offices  as  heretofore — and  be  considered  as  vested 
with  the  same  privileges  and  emoluments  as  they 
had  enjoyed  before  their  captivity,  to  extend  no  far- 
ther than  to  the  troops  and  hospitals  within  the 
enemy's  lines. 

The  Continental  Hospitals  on  the  first  of  July, 
1 78 1,  removed  from  Charlestown  to  Williamsburg 
in  Virginia.  The  hospital  was  there  continued  under 
the  care  of  Doctor  Tucker  by  order  of  the  Marquis 
de  la  Fayette  as  the  sick  could  not  at  that  time  be 
removed  into  the  country.  The  Commander  in  chief, 
on  his  arrival  in  Virginia,  directed  the  gentlemen  in 
the  Medical  Department  from  South  Carolina  to  do 
duty  in  the  general  hospital  at  Williamsburg.  These 
are  facts  which  appear  from  the  enclosed  papers. 

With  respect  to  the  last  question  which  relates  to 
an  allowance  for  the  extraordinary  expences  while 
detained  in  Charlestown  attending  the  hospital,  I 
suppose  they  were  necessarily  great,  but  he  has  not 
rendered  any  account  of  them. 

On  the  whole  of  his  request  I  beg  leave  to  submit 
to  the  consideration  of  Congress  the  following  draft 
of  a  resolve, 

209 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

That  Doctor  Thomas  T.  Tucker,  late  a  senior 
Surgeon  of  the  hospital  under  the  directorship  of 
Doctor  Olyphant,  enjoy  all  the  emoluments  of  his 
office  from  the  date  of  his  appointment  to  the  time 
he  retired  from  actual  service  in  the  hospital  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  that  a  reasonable  compensation  be  made 
him  for  his  extra  expences  while  acting  as  senior  Sur- 
geon in  Charlestown  after  its  surrender.^''^ 

December  3,  1782.  759 

Resolved,  That  after  the  fore-mentioned  period,  in 
lieu  of  the  pay  and  rations  allowed  to  the  officers  of 
the  hospital  department,  including  rations  for  ser- 
vants, they  shall  be  entitled  to  the  following  month- 
ly pay  and  subsistance;  provided  in  like  manner, 
that  where  the  said  subsistance  money  shall  not  be 
paid,  they  shall  be  entitled  to  draw  an  equivalent 
number  of  rations,  at  the  rate  of  four  dollars  for 
each  ration  per  month,  viz. 

The  director,  one  hundred  and  two  dollars  pay 
and  sixty  dollars  subsistance. 

The  deputy  director  and  physician,  each  one  hun- 
dred dollars  pay  and  forty-eight  dollars  subsistance. 

The  surgeons,  each  ninety  dollars  pay  and  forty 
dollars  subsistance. 

Apothecary  and  purveyor,  each  ninety-two  dol- 
lars pay  and  thirty-two  dollars  subsistance. 

Deputy  apothecary  and  deputy  purveyor,  each 
fifty-nine  dollars  pay  and  sixteen  dollars  subsist- 
ance. 

Mates,  each  forty-two  dollars  pay  and  twelve 
dollars  subsistance. 

1'-  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
151,  foUos  39-43.  It  is  indorsed:  Recommitted  That  the  secretary 
may  include  in  the  resolution  all  those  in  similar  circumstances 
and  to  report  a  reasonable  allowance  for  expenses  while  in 
Charlestown. 

210 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

.  Stewards,  each  tliirty-one  dollars  pay  and  eight 
doHars  subsistance. 

Ward  masters,  each  twenty-one  dollars  pay  and 
eight  dollars  subsistance.^^^ 

"^  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Alexander  Hamilton,  is  in  the 
Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  21,  folio  309. 


211 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 


•   BIBLIOGRAPHICAL  NOTES 

January  3,  1782.  885 

Hospital  Department. 

375.  By  the  United  States  in  Congress  assembled, 
January  3,  1782. 

4°  Broadside  in  two  columns. 

Report  of  Clark,  Cornell  and  Motte.  A  copy  is  in  the 
John  Carter  Brown  Library.     It  measures  20.5  x  21  cm. 

July  23,  1782.  887 

Hospital  Department. 

384.  By  the  United  States  /  in  Congress  assem- 
bled, July  23d,  1782,  / 

Resolved,  /  That  in  conducting  the  business  of  the 
General  Hospital,  .     .     . 

F°.  Broadside  of  two  columns. 

Report  of  Montgomery,  Clark  and  Ramsay.  A  copy  is  in 
the  Library  of  Congress,  Washington  Papers.  It  measures 
40.5  X  30.5  cms. 

February  28,  1783. 

The  committee  of  the  week  (Mr.  William  Hemsley, 
Mr.  Benjamin  Hawkins,  and  Mr.  Philhps  White) 
report:  That  the  memorial  of  Charles  Mortimer  of 
Virginia  Doctor  of  Physic,  praying  payment  of  his 
account,  and  the  usual  wages  and  rations  allowed 
to  others;  for  attending  the  hospital  at  Fredericks- 
burg^ for  nine  months  be  referred  to  a  special  com- 
mittee.i^^ 

^^*  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  WilUam  Hemsley,  is  in  the  Pa- 
pers of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  32,  folio  449.  The  indorse- 
ment gives  at  this  date.  The  memorial  is  in  No.  41,  VI,  folio  297. 
It  was  referred,  the  indorsement  states,  to  Mr.  (John  Lewis) 
Gervais,  Mr.  (Hugh)  Williamson,  and  Mr.  (Theodorick)  Bland. 

212 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

March  6,  1783. 

War  Office,  March  5*^  1783. 
Sir, 

There  are  many  officers,  who  have  been  wounded 
in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  who  are  thereby 
rendered  incapable  of  farther  duty  either  in  the  field 
or  in  garrison,  and  who  wish  to  retire  from  the 
army.  No  other  provision  has  been  made  for  such 
officers  than  what  they  may  receive  by  annexing 
themselves  to  the  Corps  of  Invalids. 

This  is  distressing  to  the  individuals,  and  expen- 
sive to  the  public. 

I  beg  leave  to  suggest  the  propriety  of  permitting 
those  officers,  who  have  been  wounded  in  service, 
and  who  wish  to  leave  the  army,  to  retire  to  their  re- 
spective homes  with  allowances  proportioned  in 
some  measure  to  their  inability.^^^ 

March  22,  1783. 

That  all  officers  belonging  to  the  hospital  depart- 
ment, who  are  entitled  to  half  pay  by  the  resolution 
of  the  17th  day  of  January,  1781,  may  collectively 
agree  to  accept  or  refuse  the  aforesaid  commutation, 
signifying  the  same  through  the  Commander  in 
Chief  within  six  months  from  this  time:  that  [the 
deranged]  such  officers  [what]  as  have  retired  at  dif- 
ferent periods,  intitled  to  half  pay  for  life,  [shall  be 
intitled  to  the  same  commutation]  may  collectively, 
in  each  State  of  which  they  are  inhabitants,  accept  or 
refuse  the  same;  their  acceptance  or  refusal  to  be  sig- 
nified by  agents  authorised  for  that  purpose,  within 
ix  months  from  this  period;  that  with  respect  to  such 

^^^  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
149,  II,  folio  315.  According  to  the  indorsement  it  was  referred 
on  this  day  to  Mr.  (Alexander)  Hamilton,  Mr.  (Richard)  Peters 
and  Mr.  (Daniel)  Carroll.  See  ante,  December  19,  1782. 

213 


HISOTRY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

retiring  officers,  the  commutation,  if  accepted  by 
them,  shall  be  in  lieu  of  whatever  may  be  now  due 
to  them  since  the  time  of  their  retiring  from  service 
as  well  as  of  what  might  hereafter  become  due;  and 
that  so  soon  as  their  acceptance  shall  be  signified, 
the  Superintendant  of  Finance  be  directed  to  take 
measures  for  the  settlement  of  their  accounts  accord- 
ingly, and  to  issue  to  them  certificates  bearing  in- 
terest at  six  per  cent.  That  all  officers  intitled  to 
half  pay  for  life  not  included  in  the  preceding  reso- 
lutions, may  also  collectively  agree  to  accept  or 
refuse  the  aforesaid  commutation,  signifying  the 
same  [by  their  agents  authorized  for  that  purpose] 
within  six  months  from  this  time.^^^ 

March  26,  1783. 

Resolved,  That  Dr.  Charles  Mortimer's  account  be 
settled  for  pay  and  rations  on  the  same  principle  as 
a  junior  surgeon,  for  the  term  of  nine  months,  dur- 
ing which  he  appears  to  have  been  in  the  public  ser- 
vice: 

That  the  director-general  in  the  hospital  depart- 
ment, take  order  for  delivering  to  Dr.  Mortimer  a 
quantity  of  medicines  equal  to  what  he  has  expend- 
ed in  the  public  hospital."^ 

March  31,  1783. 

War  Office,  March  27th,  1783. 
Sir, 

On  the  petition  of  the  late  sergeant  Menerson  re- 
ferred to  me,  I  beg  leave  to  report  that  there  are 
more  than  twenty  thousand  men  who  have  similar 

^^^  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Alexander  Hamilton,  is  in  the 
Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  21,  folios  332  and  315. 
The  vote  was  transcribed  by  Thomson  on  the  report. 

^'^  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Hugh  Williamson,  is  in  the 
Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  19,  IV,  folio  445. 

214 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

pretensions  to  be  supplied  with  clothing  from  the 
United  States,  and  with  whose  claims  it  is  alto- 
gether impossible  to  comply. 

If  it  shall  appear  upon  a  Surgeon's  examining  his 
wounds,  that  he  has  been  thereby  incapacitated 
from  earning  his  bread,  I  would  beg  leave  to  recom- 
mend him  to  the  provision  made  for  disabled  sol- 
diers by  the  resolves  of  Congress  of  April  22nd, 
1782.1^8 

April  22,  1783. 

On  the  report  of  a  committee,  consisting  of  Mr. 
(Oliver)  Ellsworth,  Mr.  (Hugh)  Williamson  and  Mr. 
(Abraham)  Clark,  to  whom  was  referred  a  letter  of 
22  June,  1 78 1,  from  Dr.  George  Gilmer: 

Resolved,  That  the  account  of  Dr.  G.  Gilmer  for 
pay  and  rations,  be  settled  on  the  same  principles  as 
the  accounts  of  other  hospital  surgeons  of  the  same 
rank,  according  to  the  time  he  shall  appear  to  have 
been  employed  in  the  public  service;  and  that  the 
purveyor  general  return  to  Dr.  George  Gilmer  a 
quantity  of  medicine  equal  to  what  he  expended 
out  of  his  private  stores,  for  the  use  of  the  conti- 
nental hospital  under  his  care.^''^ 

April  30,  1783. 

On  a  report  from  the  Supermtendent  of  Fmance, 
to  whom  was  referred  a  letter  of  the  17th  from 
Darius  Stoddard: 

Ordered,  That  the  commissioner  for  settling  the 
accounts  of  the  hospital  department,  adjust  and 
liquidate  those  of  Dr.  Darius  Stoddard.^^° 

1^8  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
149,  II,  folio  407.  According  to  the  indorsement  it  was  read  on 
this  day. 

"^  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Hugh  Williamson,  is  in  the 
Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  19,  II,  folio  417. 

i^''  This  order  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
137,  II,  folio  387. 

215 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

May  I,  1783. 

Resolved,  That  the  corps  of  Invalids  be  reduced, 
such  officers  as  have  lost  a  leg  or  been  [otherwise]  equal- 
ly disabled  in  service  to  retire  on  full  pay  for  life,  [or 
at  their  option  collectively  to  the  amount  of  seven 
years  full  pay  in  gross]  such  officers  as  may  not  be  in- 
cluded in  this  description  to  retire  on  [half  pay  for  life] 
the  same  principles  with  other  officers  of  tlie  army, 
such  non  commissioned  officers  and  soldiers  as  be- 
ing strangers  in  the  country  and  having  been  dis- 
abled in  service  are  incapable  of  providing  for  their 
own  subsistence  and  are  proper  subjects  for  a  hos- 
pital, to  be  received  into  some  fixed  hospital,  to  be  ap- 
propriated for  the  purpose,  and  there  supported  dur- 
ing life  on  such  provision  as  may  be  hereafter  deter- 
mined, to  be  entitled  in  the  meantime  to  their  usual 
rations  and  cloathing;  and  such  non  commissioned 
officers  and  soldiers  disabled  in  service  as  may  have 
homes  to  which  they  can  retire,  to  be  discharged  on 
the  principles  of  the  resolution  of  the  23rd  of  April 
last. 

That  the  Secretary  at  War  be  directed  to  take 
proper  measures  previous  to  the  reduction  to  ascer- 
tain the  different  classes  above  described,  ]and  to 
report  a  list  of  them  respectively  to  Congress.] 

That  the  officers  who  shall  retire  on  full  pay,  may 
at  their  option  collectively  accept  in  lieu  of  such 
full  pay  for  life  the  amount  of  years  full  pay  [in 
money  or  securities]  on  the  terms  of  the  resolutions 
of  the  last. 

That  at  the  reduction  of  this  Corps  all  the  officers 

and  men  shall  receive  one   month's   pay  and  shall 

share  in  any  further  payments  which  may  be  made 

to  the  other  parts  of  the  army  when  reduced. ^^^ 

1'^  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Alexander  Hamilton,  is  in  the 
Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  31,  folio  273.  The  indorse- 
ment states  that  it  was  delivered  this  day. 

2l6 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

May  12,  1783. 

That  the  accounts  of  Doct.  Jonathan  Arnold  be 
liquidated  and  settled  by  the  commissioner  for  set- 
tling the  accounts  of  the  hospital  department,  who 
is  hereby  authorised  to  allow  him  pay  and  rations  as 
an  Assistant  Deputy  Director  General  in  the  said  de- 
partment from  the  7  day  of  Jany.  1778  the  time  to 

D  •^-^-  A     which  his  accounts  were  settled  by 

Recommitted     ^^^  ^^^^^  ^^  p^j^^ ^^  j^j^^^ ^^  ^^  ^^^  ^tu 

of  May  1779  when  he  was  discharged,  charging  him 
with  the  monies  advanced  him  for  the  use  of  that 
Department  by  the  State  of  Rhode  Island  and  cred- 
iting the  said  State  for  the  same  in  account  with 
the  United  States. 

That  the  claim  of  the  officers  of  a  Brigade  raised 
in  the  State  of  Rhode  Island  in  Feby.,  1779  for  one 
year,  with  the  approbation  of  Congress,  for  depre- 
ciation of  their  pay,  is  inadmissible,  no  allowance  of 
that  kind  having  been  made  or  approved  by  Con- 
gress to  any  officers  or  soldiers  discharged  from  ser- 
vice before  the  10*^  of  April  1780.^*^ 

May  16,  1783. 

Resolved,  That  the  Commissioner  for  settling  the 
accounts  of  the  Hospital  department  be  and  he  is 
hereby  authorized  and  directed  to  audit  and  settle 
the  accounts  of  Dr.  Jonathan  Arnold,  as  Assistant 
Deputy  Director  in  the  Eastern  Department  from 
7th  January,  1778,  to  May  9th,  1779,  as  well  for 
all  supplies  and  expenditures  as  for  pay  and  rations, 
and  that  he  also  settle  the  accounts  of  all  those  who 

182  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Oliver  Ellsworth,  is  in  the  Pa- 
pers of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  19,  I,  folio  179.  The  indorse- 
ment states  that  it  was  reported  this  day,  and  on  "September, 
9,  1785,  Arnold's  accounts  referred  to  the  committee  for  set- 
tling hospital  accounts.  This  to  be  filed."  See  post,  June  10. 

217 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

were  necessarily  employed  in  hospital  service  by 
the  said  Dr.  Arnold  within  the  term  aforesaid.  That 
their  pay  and  other  allowances  be  the  same  as  by 
the  resolutions  of  Congress  are  allowed  to  those  of 
similar  stations  in  the  hospital  department.  And 
that  the  said  commissioner  allow  in  such  settlement 
for  depreciation  upon  ail  advances  and  sums  due  to 
each  respectively,  with  an  interest  of  six  per  cent, 
per  annum  from  the  times  they  became  due.^^ 

May  23,  1783. 

That  the  petition  of  William  Stevens  and  others, 
mates  to  the  general  hospital  in  the  Southern  de- 
partment, praying  to  be  allowed  half  pay  or  com- 
pensation be  referred  to  a  special  committee. ^^^ 

June  10,  1783. 

Resolved,  That  the  commissioner  for  settling  the 
accounts  of  the  hospital  department  audit  and  set- 
tle the  accounts  of  Doc^  Jonathan  Arnold,  as  as- 
sistant deputy  director  in  said  department  from  the 
7th  day  of  Jany.  1778  to  the  9th  day  of  May  1779, 
as  well  for  all  supplies  and  expenditures  as  for 
pay  and  rations  charging  him  with  the  monies  ad- 
vanced him  for  the  use  of  said  department  by  the 
State  of  Rhode  Island  and  crediting  the  said  State 
for  the  same  in  account  with  the  U.  States,  And  that 
he  also  settle  the  accounts  of  all  those  who  were 
necessarily  employed  in  hospital  service  by  the  said 

^^^  This  motion,  in  the  writing  of  Jonathan  Arnold,  is  in  the 
Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  42,  VI,  Folio  485.  Com- 
mittee Book,  No.  186,  gives  it  this  date.  It  was  referred  to  Mr. 
(Oliver)  Ellsworth,  Mr.  (Hugh)  Williamson,  and  Mr.  (John 
Lewis)  Gervais.  See  post,  June  10,  1783. 

^^■*  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Thomas  Fitzsimmons,  is  in  the 
Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  42,  V,  folio  290.  Stevens' 
petition  is  in  folio  287.  The  indorsement  shows  the  action  taken. 

2l8 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

Doctor  Arnold  within  the  term  aforesaid,  and  that 
their  pay  and  other  allowances  be  the  same  as  by  the 
resolutions  of  Congress  are  allowed  to  those  of  simi- 
lar stations  in  the  said  department.^^^ 
July  4,  1783. 

The  committee  of  the  week,  (Mr.  William  Ellery, 
Mr.  Jacob  Read  and  Mr.  Jonathan  Arnold)  report 
that  the  petition  of  the  Rev^  William  Plumb  late 
chaplain  to  the  Northern  Hospital  praying  for  an 
adjustment  and  payment  of  his  accounts  be  read  in 
Congress  with  the  papers  accompanying  the  same. 

That  the  petition  of  Grace  Mercer  Widow  of 
Richard  Mercer  Esq^,  late  of  Charles  Town  in  the 
State  of  South  Carolina  deceased  Purveyor  to  the 
Hospitals  of  the  army  of  the  United  States  in  the 
said  State  of  South  Carolina  be  referred  to  the  Su- 
perintendent of  Finance  to  report.^^^ 

July  II,  1783. 

The  Superintendent  of  Finance  to  whom  was  re- 
ferred the  petition  of  Grace  Mercer  Widow  of  Rich- 
ard Mercer  Esq?"  Purveyor  to  the  Hospitals  of  the 
United  States  in  South  Carolina  begs  leave  to  re- 
port 

That  if,  as  is  alledged,  the  Paper  Money  therein 
mentioned  remained  in  the  Hands  of  the  said  Rich- 
ard Mercer  from  the  time  in  which  he  received  it 
until  his  Death  and  from  that  time  to  the  present 
in  the  Hands  of  his  widow  the  Delivery  of  it  ought 
to  discharge  the  said  Richard  Mercer's  Estate  in 
account  with  the  United  States  from  the  value  which 
so  much  money  was  of  at  the  time  it  was  received 

^**  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Oliver  Ellsworth,  is  in  the 
Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  19,  I,  folio  181.  The  in- 
dorsement states  that  it  was  delivered  and  read  this  day. 

'^  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Jacob  Read,  is  in  the  Papers 
of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  32,  folio  509. 

219 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

by  him.  And  the  Delivery  of  the  said  Money  into 
the  State  Treasury  of  South  Carolina  ought  in  like 
manner  to  discharge  the  United  States  from  the  like 
value  in  account  with  the  said  State. 

That  the  Commissioner  for  Settling  the  Hospital 
Accounts  will  therefore  on  proper  Proof  made  to 
him  of  the  Facts  above  stated  receive  the  said  money 
and  credit  the  same  in  the  account  of  the  said  Rich- 
ard Mercer  and  will  transmit  the  money  and  Proof 
to  the  Commissioner  for  Settling  the  accounts  of  the 
United  States  with  the  State  of  South  Carolina  who 
will  enter  it  in  those  accounts  to  the  Credit  of  the 
United  States.  Office  of  Finance  8  July,  1783.^^^ 

July  23,  1783. 

On  the  report  of  a  committee,  consisting  of  Mr. 
(Richard)  Peters,  Mr.  (Abraham)  Clark,  and  Mr. 
(Stephen)  Higginson,  to  whom  was  referred  a  report 
of  the  Superintendant  of  finance,  on  a  petition  of 
Mrs.  Grace  Mercer: 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  a  memorial 
of  Mrs.  Grace  Mercer,  relict  of  Mercer,  late 

Purveyor  of  the  hospital  in  South  Carolina,  report, 

That  the  time  when  the  particular  purpose  for 
which  the  said  money  was  received  or  the  reason 
why  the  same  was  not  applied  to  the  use  intended 
do  not  appear;  and  as  a  permission  granted  to  pub- 
lic Officers  to  return  paper  money  received  at  peri- 
ods of  depreciation  would  establish  a  Precedent 
which  may  be  productive  of  many  ill  consequences 
Your  Committee  are  of  opinion. 

Ordered,  That  the  superintendant  of  finance  trans- 

^^^  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
137,  II,  folio  607.  The  indorsement  shows  that  it  was  read  this 
day  and  on  July  16  referred  to  Mr.  (Richard)  Peters,  Mr.  (Abra- 
ham) Clark  and  Mr.  (Stephen)  Higginson. 

220 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

mlt  to  the  commissioner  for  settling  the  accounts  of 
the  hospital  department,  a  copy  of  the  memorial  of 
Mrs.  Grace  Mercer,  and  in  the  settlement  of  the 
accounts  of  the  late  Mr.  Mercer,  due  enquiry  be 
made  by  the  said  commissioner,  into  the  causes  of 
the  detention  of  the  money  therein  mentioned;  and 
that  the  said  commissioner  report  the  result  of  such 
inquiry  to  the  superintendant  of  finance,  who  is 
hereby  authorised  to  take  order  therein  as  shall  ap- 
pear to  him  just,  on  such  report  being  made.^^* 

August  5,  1783. 

The  Superintendant  of  Finance  to  whom  was  re- 
ferred the  Petition  of  Grace  Mercer,  widow  of  Rich- 
ard Mercer  Esq^,  Purveyor  to  the  Hospitals  of  the 
United  States  in  South  Carolina,  begs  leave  to  re- 
port. 

That  if,  as  is  alledged,  the  paper  money  therein 
mentioned  remained  in  the  Hands  of  the  said  Rich- 
ard Mercer  from  the  time  in  which  he  received  it 
until  his  Death  and  from  that  time  to  the  present  in 
the  hands  of  his  widow  the  Delivery  of  it  ought  to 
discharge  the  said  Richard  Mercer's  estate  in  ac- 
count with  the  United  States  from  the  value  which 
so  much  money  was  of  at  the  time  it  was  received 
by  him — and  the  Delivery  of  the  said  money  into 
the  State  Treasury  of  South  Carolina  ought  in  like 
manner  to  discharge  the  United  States  from  the  like 
value  in  account  with  the  said  State. 

That  the  commissioner  for  settling  the  Hospital 
accounts  will  therefore  on  proper  Proof  made  to 
him  of  the  facts  above  stated  receive  the  said  money 
and  Credit  the  same  in  the  account  of  the  said  Rich- 
ard Mercer  and  will  transmit    the  money  and  the 

1^*  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Richard  Peters,  is  in  the  Pa- 
pers of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  19,  IV,  foliio  55.  The  in- 
dorsement states  that  it  was  passed  on  this  day 

221 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

Proof  to  the  commissioner  for  settling  the  accounts 
of  the  United  States  with  the  State  of  South  Caro- 
lina who  will  enter  it  in  these  accounts  to  the  Credit 
of  the  United  States.  Office  of  Finance,  31  July, 
1783.189 

August  12,  1783. 

The  committee,  consisting  of  Mr.  (James)  Mc- 
Henry,  Mr.  (Hugh)  Williamson  and  Mr.  (Abraham) 
Clark,  to  whom  was  referred  a  petition  of  Dr.  Dirk 
Van  Ingen,  praying  that  depreciation  may  be  al- 
lowed him  in  the  settlement  of  his  account,  report, 

"That  as  Dr.  Van  Ingen,  who  served  for  some 
years  as  surgeon,  in  the  continental  hospital,  ap- 
pears by  his  petition  to  have  [resigned  or  to  have 
been  left  out  of  promotion]  been  reduced  as  a  super- 
numerary before  the  loth  of  April,  1780,  [deprecia- 
tion, therefore,  cannot  be  allowed  him  without  de- 
parting from  the  rule  hitherto  adopted  and  opening 
an  account  which  may  occasion  much  trouble  and 
be  a  precedent  for  a  variety  of  claims  of  officers  in 
different  departments,]  and  as  no  depreciation  [to 
officers  in  every  department]  has  been  allowed  to 
officers  who  left  the  service  before  that  period,  [has 
been  constantly  refused,]  Dr.  Van  Ingen's  claim  can 
not  be  admitted  without  infringement  of  the  rule 
established  by  Congress."  ^^° 

September  2,  1783. 

The  committee  of  the  Week  (Mr.  Jacob  Read,  Mr. 
Abiel  Foster  and  Mr.  William  Ellery)  on  considera- 
tion of  the  petition  of  Ebenezer  Augustus  Smith  for- 

**'  This  report  is  in  the  Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No. 
137,  II,  folio  731.  According  to  the  indorsement  it  was  delivered 
this  day.  It  was  ordered  to  be  filed  among  obsolete  reports.  Mr. 
Mercer's  petition  is  on  folio  735. 

1'"  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  James  McHenry,  is  in  the  Pa- 
pers of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  19,  VI,  folio  109. 

222 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

merly  a  Surgeon  in  the  General  Hospital  praying 
that  depreciation  may  be  allowed  him,  report  as 
their  opinion  that  the  request  of  the  said  Ebenezer 
Augustus  Smith  being  similar  to  that  of  Di"  Dirk 
Van  Ingen  lately  determined  by  Congress  can  not 
be  granted  without  infringing  the  rule  established 
by  Congress  of  the  lo*?  day  of  April  1780.^^^ 

September  10,  1783. 

The  same  reason  which  makes  it  proper  to  have 
two  Serjeant  Majors  &c.  in  each  Regiment  of  In- 
fantry, will  make  it  equally  necessary  to  have  tw^o 
Surgeon's  Mates, 

October  23,  1783. 

No  Regiment  to  be  allowed  to  draw  rations  for 
more  than  four  women  to  serve  as  nurses  in  the 
Regimental  Hospitals  and  to  receive  four  dollars  per 
month  in  addition  to  a  ration  per  day. 
General  Hospital 

A  general  hospital  for  the  reception  of  the  inval- 
ids of  the  army  and  navy  will  be  necessary  to  con- 
sist for  the  present  of  the  following  persons: 
I  Director  to  have  at  the  same  time  the  Super- 
intendance  of  the  Regimental  Hospitals  .      .   80 

I  Surgeon 50 

4  Mates each  25 

I  Purveyor  and  Apothecary 50 

I  Steward 15 

4  Nurses each     5 

To  be  entitled  to  draw  each  a  ration  of  provisions 
per  day,  but  to  no  other  allowance. 

The  invalids  to  receive  one  dollar  per  month,  and 

^'1  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Jacob  Read,  is  in  the  Papers 
of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  32,  folio  517.  According  to  the 
indorsement  it  was  agreed  to  on  this  day.  Smith's  petition,  dated 
Wilmington,  April  10,  178.3,  is  in  No.  42,  VII,  foho  161. 

223 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

the  provisions  and  cloathing  of  a  common  soldier 
during  life. 

The  total  expence  of  this  es-  359,530 
tablishment  [if  complete]  as 
reduced  in  peace,  would 
amount  to  about  .  .  .  [531,950] 
Deduct  the  product  of  the 
the  truth(  manufactories  which  is  esti- 
mated at 131,950 


Not  quite 
exact  but 
very  near 


$227,580 
Balance    an    annual    charge 
^     upon  the  United  States^^^  .   [400,000] 
October  31,  1783. 

The  Secretary  at  War  reported,  that  the  following 
lines,  corps  and  individuals,  have  agreed  to  accept 
the  commutation  of  five  years'  pay,  in  lieu  of  the 
half  pay  for  ,  as  appears  by  the  papers  ac- 

companying his  report:  .     .     ,     . 

.  .  .  .  hospital  department,  and  Dr.  Tilton, 
Dr.  Bodo  Otto,  Dr.  Frederick  Otto,  Dr.  Martin. 

November  4,  1783. 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  letter- 
of  Major  General  Lincoln  of  the  have  ex- 

amined the  list  of  bills  drawn  by  him  whilst  com- 
manding in  the  Southern  Department,  and  find  suf- 
ficient vouchers  to  support  charges  against  the  Com- 
missary of  purchases,  the  Quarter  Master,  the  Cloth- 
ier, the  Pay  Master,  Purveyor  of  the  Hospital  and 
the  Navy,  for  five  millions  four  hundred  and  twenty 
four  thousand  one  hundred  and  nine  dollars;  and 
that  bills  to  a  considerable  amount  are  yet  out- 
standing, which  when  presented  for  payment  ought 
also  to  be  charged  to  the  Departments  in  whose 

^^^  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Alexander  Hamilton,  is  in  the 
Papers  of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  38,  Folios  413-442. 

224 


DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

favor  they  were  respectively  drawn.  Wherefore  your 
Committee  submit  the  following  resolution: 

Resolved,  That  Major  General  Lincoln  be  credited, 
in  the  books  of  the  treasury,  the  sum  of  five  mil- 
lions four  hundred  and  twenty  four  thousands  one 
hundred  and  nine  dollars,  and  that  the  several  de- 
partments be  charged  with  the  amount  of  the  bills 
drawn  in  their  favor.  And  that  all  such  bills  as  may 
hereafter  be  presented  for  payment,  be  charged  to 
the  departments  in  whose  favor,  from  the  face  of 
the  bill,  they  shall  appear  to  have  been  drawn;  and 
that  Major  General  Lincoln  be  credited  for  the 
amount  thereof. ^^^ 

June  2,  1785. 

Resolved,  That  those  officers  of  the  hospital  de- 
partment in  the  southern  army,  who  were  detained 
in  Charleston,  after  its  surrender  to  the  British 
troops,  for  the  purpose  of  attending  the  sick  and 
wounded  of  the  army  of  the  United  States,  which, 
in  consideration  of  the  extra  expences  which  they  in- 
curred by  the  performance  of  the  said  duty,  be  al-* 
lowed  the  sums  affixed  to  their  respective  names  con- 
tained in  a  return  deposited  in  the  war-office,  which 
was  transmitted  and  signed  by  David  Oliphant,  dep- 
uty director  of  the  southern  hospital. 

June  20,  1785. 

On  the  report  of  a  committee,  consisting  of  Mr. 
Williamson,  Mr.  Stewart,  and  Mr.  Howell,  to  whom 
was  referred  the  petition  of  Dr.  J.  Morgan, 

Resolved,  That  when  ever  Dr.  J.  Morgan,  shall 
have  accounted  for  the  stores  delivered  to  his  care, 
or  when  the  several  charges  against  his  former  de- 
partment shall  have  been  delivered  in,  and  it  shall 

^^*  This  report,  in  the  writing  of  Samuel  Osgood,  is  in  the  Pa- 
pers of  the  Continental  Congress,  No.  19,  III,  folio  577. 

225 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  U.S.A. 

appear  to  the  commissioner  for  settling  the  hospital 
accounts,  that  the  doctor's  papers  and  books  are  un- 
avoidably destroyed,  or  that  he  has  rendered  the 
best  account  of  the  stores  committed  to  his  care,  of 
which  the  circumstances  of  the  case  would  admit  he 
shall  obtain  a  certificate  for  the  balance  due  him. 
May  8,  1786. 

Resolved,  That  the  powers  and  duties  heretofore 
exercised  by  the  commissioners  for  the  quarter  mas- 
ter's and  the  commissary's  departments  be  exercised 
by  one  commissioner,  and  that  the  powers  and  duties 
of  the  commissioners  for  the  hospital,  marine  and 
clothier's  departments  be  exercised  by  one  other 
commissioner,  to  be  elected  annually  by  Congress: 
and  that  the  salary  of  each  of  the  said  commission- 
ers be  at  the  rate  of  1250  dollars  per  annum. 

June  28,  1786. 

The  commissioner  for  settling  of  the  accounts  of 
Robert  Johnson,  the  commissioner  for  settling  the 
hospital  accounts  &c.  be  directed  to  examine  strict- 
ly into  the  propriety  of  all  extra  expenses  incurred 
in  the  executing  their  duties,  and  where  it  shall  ap- 
pear that  such  expenses  were  necessarily  and  un- 
avoidably incurred,  and  that  the  subsistance  allowed 
was  not  adequate  thereto,  the  surplus  be  allowed. 
That,  as  it  appears  from  the  deposition  of  the  said 
Dr.  Robert  Johnson,  that  the  sum  of  money  and  cer- 
tificates stated  in  his  memorial,  were  public  monies 
stolen  from  him,  without  any  negligence  on  his  part, 
and  that  the  balance  of  money  remaining  in  his 
hands  has  not  been  applied  to  any  use  since  it  came 
into  his  possession,  the  commissioner  for  settling  ac- 
counts of  the  hospital  department,  be  directed  to 
pass  the  amount  of  those  sums  to  his  credit,  on  his 
returning  to  the  commissioner  the  said  balance  and 
a  list  of  the  certificates  so  stolen. 

226 


